Ex-Blue Coat teacher handed life-long ban
Sonning: Harvey McGough barred from teaching after being found guilty of making indecent images
A former teacher at Reading Blue Coat School has been handed a life-long ban from teaching following his conviction for making indecent images of children.
Harvey McGough was found guilty in November 2021 for three counts of making indecent photographs or pseudophotographs of children and one count of possessing prohibited images of children. He pleaded guilty to all the offences at Reading Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced at Reading Crown Court.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months and put on Sex Offenders Notice for 10 years.
McGough also received a sexual harm prevention order for a period of 10 years and must register with the police for a period of 10 years.
McGough taught at the Sonning secondary school from 2008 until 2021 when he was suspended with immediate effect following his arrest by Thames Valley Police on January 19 2021.
He later resigned on March 16 2021.
The future of the former head of design and technology was considered by a professional conduct panel from the Teaching Regulation Agency who took the decision in December to recommend to the Secretary of State to issue him with a ‘lifelong prohibition order, with no provision for a review period.’
Its full report was published earlier this month.
With immediate effect, McGough is ‘prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England,’ said the report.
The panel found that ‘there was an extremely strong public interest consideration in respect of the protection of pupils and other members of the public’ to issue the ban and McGough’s actions, although not involving anyone directly associated with the school, ‘raised obvious concerns and significant public and child protection concerns.’
The panel found McGough’s behaviour to have breached Teachers’ Standards which include ‘upholding public trust’ and ‘having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ wellbeing’.
‘His conduct ran counter to what should have been at the very core of his practice as a teacher with a duty of care towards children,’ said the report.
It was also noted that a work email address was used in relation to the indecent photographs or pseudo photographs.
A spokesperson for the school said:
“This is a deeply distressing situation for the school community concerning a former member of staff.
“Upon being notified of the
safeguarding concerns, the individual was suspended immediately and left the employment of the school in March 2021.
“The offences the individual was convicted of did not involve any of our students in any way.
“The highest priority for the School is the safety and wellbeing of our students.”