LONDON PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHER BANNED AFTER CRYSTAL METH ADMISSION

A teacher at Dwight School in London has been banned from the profession after admitting to using crystal methamphetamine. Charles Richard Miles, who had taught at the independent school for 40 years as an English as an additional language and learning support teacher, told his employer he used the drug "on the weekends" to "relax" and described himself as "pretty controlled" with his use. The school, which charges annual fees of £37,500 for sixth form students, reported Miles to the Teaching Regulation Agency following police discovery of evidence of drug use at his Hackney flat in November 2024.

Police attended Miles's home after he reported concerns about water damage and noted that he smoked crystal meth. The force referred Miles's drug use to the school, which held an informal capability meeting with him in January 2025. During that meeting, Miles stated: "[The police are] concerned about that crystal meth use, but as I am trying to explain, I am not addicted to it." He characterised his substance use as "private". A panel decision found that his admissions "indicated repeated, rather than isolated, consumption" and that his drug use was "ongoing" and predated the police visit.

Miles sent text messages on 18 April 2025 indicating his intention to retire from teaching at the end of the school year. The Teaching Regulation Agency subsequently imposed a ban from the profession. Dwight School, part of a global network with locations in New York, Dubai, Hanoi, Shanghai and Seoul, had cited serious concerns regarding Miles's "presentation, wellbeing and professional functioning" when referring him to the regulatory body.