Ex-primary school swimming instructor from Wisbech banned from teaching after drinking rosé wine on the job

A swimming instructor has been banned from his profession after being found intoxicated while teaching primary school children.

Liam Knight, the ex-head coach for March Marlins and former swimmer for Great Britain, has been prohibited from teaching indefinitely after he drank while taking prescribed medication despite having a lesson with young children the same day.

The 30-year-old from Wisbech had been working at Drayton Junior School, near Norwich, for less than two months before he brought alcohol onto the school premises, consumed it on-site and failed to take and ensure appropriate action in safeguarding pupils.

Mr Knight admitted the allegations before a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel on Friday, January 17.

The panel heard that at the time of the incident in the pool, the instructor was slurring his words, had bloodshot eyes and could not focus or remain orientated.

It was also noted that Mr Knight had run the swimming lesson in a different way on this occasion and he failed to take a headcount or complete a register and his general mannerisms were unusual.

A bottle of rosé wine had been found in the staff toilets by one of his colleagues and, during the hearing, Mr Knight accepted it was most probably his which he had purchased at lunchtime.

With all of the allegations proven, the panel decided that the instructor had breached the Teachers’ Standards and his conduct fell significantly short of what is expected of the profession.

On behalf of the secretary of state, chief executive of the Teaching Regulation Agency Marc Cavey said: “In my judgement, the lack of evidence that Mr Knight has developed full insight into and remorse for his behaviour means that there is some risk of repetition and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils.”

The instructor has been subsequently banned from the profession and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

He may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until January 29, 2027.