A West London teacher has been banned from the profession for at least five years after being found guilty of multiple alcohol-related offences, including attempting to teach while intoxicated and crashing a car with a child passenger.
Ms Alexandra Zbanca, 41, who worked as a Special Educational Needs (SEN) teacher, was deemed unfit to remain in the classroom following an investigation by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), which revealed a series of troubling incidents spanning 2022 and 2023.
The tribunal heard that Ms Zbanca was first convicted of drink-driving in June 2022, having crashed a car with a child – referred to as Child B – inside. Police attending the scene discovered two empty wine bottles concealed in nappy bags, which a social worker’s report described as “an attempt to hide her drinking”. The report labelled her behaviour as “severe negligence” and warned it could have “ended in tragedy”.
She was later convicted at Willesden Magistrates’ Court for being in charge of a vehicle whilst unfit through drink and being found drunk in a public place while responsible for a child. Her sentence included a community order, 10 penalty points, rehabilitation activity, and financial penalties.
Only months later, in February 2023, Ms Zbanca began working at Pentland Field School in Ickenham via an agency. There, it was alleged she arrived at school under the influence of alcohol, visibly intoxicated to the extent she could not walk in a straight line. According to witness testimonies, she had bottles of wine in her bag and attempted to teach a class while so drunk she fell off her chair in the staff office.
The disciplinary panel heard that a colleague, concerned by her erratic behaviour, found her distraught and asked her to go to the Assistant Head’s office. On the way, it was noted she was unable to maintain her balance and had to lean against walls for support. Once in the office, she was reportedly unsteady, slurred her speech, and admitted to drinking before arriving on school premises.
When staff checked her belongings, they found two unsealed bottles of wine and a water bottle that smelled strongly of alcohol. Ms Zbanca admitted she had been drinking in a pub and had decanted the wine into a water bottle to disguise it.
The panel was unanimous in its decision that her conduct had fallen significantly below the standards expected of a teacher. They also considered an earlier incident involving another child – Child A – who had repeatedly turned up to school smelling of urine and without underwear. Ms Zbanca blamed a hair gel, but her explanation was rejected by the panel. Her placement at that school was terminated in July 2022.
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Despite being given opportunities to accept support for her alcohol misuse, Ms Zbanca refused. The panel found that she had breached several key professional standards, including her duty to safeguard children and act with integrity. Her actions, they said, posed a “serious risk” to vulnerable pupils.
The TRA has imposed a prohibition order, banning Ms Zbanca from teaching or working in education. She may not apply for the order to be lifted for at least five years.
Pentland Field School issued a statement confirming they took swift action when concerns were raised. “The safety and wellbeing of our pupils and staff are always our highest priority,” the school said. “We followed safeguarding procedures immediately, and none of the children mentioned were enrolled at our school.”
Tempest Resourcing, the agency through which Ms Zbanca was employed, has been contacted for comment.
