Rowan Barnicoat, a former maths teacher at Pool Academy in Redruth, Cornwall, has been removed from the teaching profession after admitting to using cocaine at a staff Christmas party in December 2023.
Colleagues witnessed Barnicoat take two bags of white powder from a suitcase and inhale it through a rolled-up £5 note. He reportedly told a colleague he had "something stronger" and intended to use the drugs out of sight of senior management.
During the party, Barnicoat also commented on his ability to pay for taxis, stating he "always has cash from dealing," according to reports. Another colleague observed him preparing the powder on a table with a credit card.
Barnicoat, who began his teaching career in September 2022, confirmed the substance was cocaine. He resigned from Pool Academy in February 2024, following an investigation into the incident. The case was subsequently referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).
The TRA panel found Barnicoat guilty of unacceptable professional conduct, stating his actions amounted to serious misconduct that fell significantly short of professional standards. The panel noted that his behavior had the potential to cause reputational harm to the education profession and that public confidence could be weakened if such conduct were not treated with seriousness.
Gamel Byles, chairing the TRA hearing, highlighted that Barnicoat had not demonstrated any steps toward rehabilitation and did not engage with the hearing, limiting the panel's ability to consider mitigating factors. The decision to strike him off the profession means he is now banned from teaching.