Jon Downs

Introduction

Jon Downs is a former teacher at Westhoughton High School in Bolton who was banned from teaching in April 2025 after a Teaching Regulation Agency panel found that, on or around 3 July 2023, he brought cider onto school premises, drank it while on site and during school hours with pupils in his care, and thereby put pupils at risk of harm. Downs admitted the allegations through a signed statement of agreed facts, and the case was decided without a contested hearing. The panel found all three allegations proved and recommended a prohibition order; the decision maker on behalf of the Secretary of State imposed it, with a two-year review period.

Background Information

The published decision records that Downs was employed as a teacher at Westhoughton High School, Bolton, and that he was born on 14 March 1989. The panel that decided his case convened on 25 April 2025 by way of a virtual meeting, chaired by teacher panellist Ms Jackie Hutchings, with Mrs Georgina Bean as teacher panellist and Mr Peter Whitelock as lay panellist, and Mrs Samantha Cass of Birketts LLP Solicitors as legal adviser. The decision notes his previous disciplinary record was unblemished, with no evidence in the bundle of any previous concerns about his conduct or performance.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

The incident took place on or around 3 July 2023 at Westhoughton High School. According to the published decision, the allegations were that Downs brought alcohol onto school premises, consumed alcohol whilst on school premises and/or during school hours, and that this conduct put one or more pupils at risk of harm. The allegations were set out in a notice of meeting dated 14 January 2025, and Downs admitted all three in a statement of agreed facts signed on 31 October 2024. The TRA agreed to his request that the case be considered without a hearing, and the panel met without Downs, any representative, or the presenting officer present.

The evidence described in the decision centres on the reactions of colleagues. Individual A stated that a smell of alcohol was noticeable while walking across the school yard, that Downs questioned the way to her office despite having been there on multiple occasions, and that at one point he walked into a door — the main school reception door used regularly by staff. A member of staff had told colleagues his behaviour that day was “quite out of character”, according to the hearsay account of Individual A. Individual B stated that after walking Downs from his classroom she could smell alcohol coming from him, and that she discretely removed his wastepaper bin to review the contents and saw 3 cider cans at the bottom. When confronted, Downs admitted he had been drinking in school, stating he had 3 cans of cider in his classroom when no students were there and had put the cans in the bin. The following day, a school branded plastic bottle found at the far edge of his desk was found to contain around 3cm of cider at the bottom. The panel also had sight of photographs of the bin, which contained empty bottles of cider.

Although Downs had admitted everything, the panel considered the evidence in any event and found all three allegations proved. It found that by having and consuming alcohol on the school site, and being under the influence whilst having pupils in his care, Downs had put pupils at risk of potential harm. The panel held that this amounted to misconduct of a serious nature which fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession, breached his safeguarding obligations under the statutory guidance Keeping children safe in education, and breached the Teachers’ Standards, including upholding public trust and having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being. It also found the actions constituted conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, since pupils must be able to view teachers as role models.

Public Reaction and Consequences

The panel found the public interest considerations — safeguarding pupils, protecting the public, maintaining confidence in the profession, and declaring proper standards — outweighed the interests of Downs, and recommended that a prohibition order be imposed with immediate effect. It noted some insight and remorse on his part and his unblemished disciplinary record, but did not accept that the incident was out of character. The decision maker, Marc Cavey, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, agreed that prohibition was proportionate and in the public interest, placing considerable weight on the serious nature of the misconduct and the lack of evidence that Downs had developed full insight into his behaviour. The decision was dated 29 April 2025.

Current Status

Downs is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. The order carries a two-year review period: he may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside, but not until 02 May 2027, two years from the date of the order at the earliest. This is not an automatic right to have the order removed — if he applies, a panel will meet to consider whether it should be set aside, and without a successful application he remains prohibited indefinitely. He also had a right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days of being given notice of the order.

Impact on Their Career/Life

The prohibition order ended Downs’ teaching career in England, barring him from any teaching role in schools, sixth form colleges, relevant youth accommodation or children’s homes for at least the two-year review period — and for life unless a future panel agrees to set the order aside. The panel acknowledged there was no evidence that any doubt had ever been cast upon his abilities as an educator, but concluded his behaviour fundamentally breached the standard of conduct expected of a teacher. The case stands as an example of how seriously the regulator treats alcohol on school premises, even where admitted, with no pupils harmed and an otherwise clean record.

Sources

• Department for Education, “Teacher misconduct panel outcome: Mr Jon Downs” — source