to be angry the headmistress let the teacher continue working when under investigation for porn?

[GrumpyWhenWoken]

One of the teachers locally was accused and charged with having 300+ pornographic photographs of a category 5 (whatever that means) on his computer. He tragically, for his family, hanged himself before the court case. We have found out today that it was because of the court case and the images on his computer. He was a widely respected and loved teacher, however he was allowed to continue working at the school whilst this investigation was ongoing. We are all shocked to find out the reason for his suicide (having got over the shock of it at the time).

Are we to now question the head teacher's judgement on everything now? He didn't teach my child, but if he had I would be furious.

he wouldnt kill himself if he was innocent though would he?

im not so sure Trish
stress/pressure/likehlihood of " getting off" pretty low

Anyone who regards an image of a child being subjucted to horrific abuse (as cat 5 denotes) as sexually stimulating is a risk to a child imo.

However, I would hope that there may have been mitigating circumstances ie flatmate who shares computer and has previous convictions maybe? A long shot, but something of that nature may have occurred. If not, then it was wholly incorrect that he remained in his post and I too would be fuming.

Shit, sorry I didn't read the whole thread.

I would fucking hope that a "kind and much loved" teacher wouldn't allow his paedo son to carry on as he was, by exonerating him in a suicide note.

Sick bastard and surely a textbook "groomer".

The school made a massive error which someone needs to be made accountable for.

Message withdrawn

Right or wrong innocent until proven guilty does not always apply to teachers, esecially where anything sexual is concerned. You would usually be suspended during investigation.

It's been a tragic story, us parents are now torn between the sorrow we felt at him committing suicide and for his family and now the revulsion at knowing why, and that he admitted the offences in a note.

I understand that the school was following guidelines etc. but in this day and age and with recent events in the media, you would have thought that he could have gone on 'garden leave' quietly until the case was either proved or not. It was kept very quiet until now so no-one would have known why.

I've asked for people's opinions because I really don't know what to think, so I do appreciate the replies

Reading the link, it looks as though it was down to the police and LEA, so the school wouldn't have had any say in it. The head would have had to do as they were told on this matter, despite personal opinions. So whilst I, too, think he maybe should have been suspended (some kind of inane reason could have been given) whilst the investigation took place, I don't think it's the school's fault he wasn't.

Just goes to show how meaningless a crb check is.
The guy should bnot have been anywhere children .he should have been suspended on full pay until found guilty or exonerated.You are right to be kicking up a stink

Absolutely agree with that yummy. My friend had to have a crb check as we worked together in a different setting from a school but he worked with older children in our establishment. When he got his crb check for our place he waved it round like a prize, was so happy. Now I know why. He must have been breathing a sigh of relief.

you've hit the nail on the head Yummy and Rockbird, what is the point of these checks when they only show you haven't been caught, and it would seem that even if you are caught you are allowed to carry on, even if it is supervised.

People have expressed how lovely he was, but then most people who are grooming children are aren't they? That's how they gain the trust of the parents and children.

I'm not saying that he touched any of the children, that has not been suggested at all, however, if he had taught my children I would be asking if any of the images were of my children.

I haven't kicked up a stink, yet. I really wanted to know what other people would do if it was their school.

I just really cant get over catagory 5.

Its the worst. Those images wouldve had to have shown torture of children. Its not a bit of barely legal stuff. Its rape and buggery and pain.

How is it that some teachers seem to be suspending at the merest hint of wrongdoing e.g a stroppy teenager saying they have been pushed, but he was allowed to stay on after being charged?

Would the school have definitely known of the charges? I only ask because dh once worked with someone who told his boss that he had a "bit of trouble with the law" but inferred it was something like tax evasion. He even got his boss to write him a character reference!

It was only when the child pornography case came to court (and was widely reported in the media as it was a bad case) that his fellow-workers found out what the truth was (think he had left the company shortly before). Afaik the police never informed his employers or asked to look at his work computer.

Please remember that the man is innocent until proven guilty. We are a civilised country that does not condemn people until they are proved to be guilty.

Obviously this case will now not be solved, which is tragic in all cases - for the victims of such pictures, and for this man if he was indeed innocent.

For the police to have allowed this man to continue working in a school there must have been, IMO, an awful lot of doubt.

I have known of other cases where the teacher involved has been out of the school the second the case was even touched on.

I cannot imagine the police allowing him to work in a school if they were certain he was guilty.

Oh - and for all I say - I do think he should have been on garden leave or suspend until the case was over, for everyone's sake.

Presumably the school didn't know what charges were being made until he returned to the police after being given bail? Is that not the point he committed suicide? Would the school have known what he was under suspiion of/being charged with before that point?

Apart from being sickened by this whole story I am extremely puzzled about the decision to let the bloke keep teaching. You said you thought the governors weren't kept in the loop. The article implies that it was the council/LEA decision which presumes that the governors must have been involved at some level.

If I was you I would be demanding an explanation from the head/governors/LEA about who Knew who the feck decided to let him stay and why.

All the parents in the school deserve these answers.

Message withdrawn

The school is a foundation school, and is not subject to the same LEA regulations; they appear to be more autonomous.

The foundation in question at this particular school is the Church of England.

bloss the thought of a teacher going home to look at pictures of children being tortured and whatever else is not one that I am happy about. Of course this will never reach a conclusion as he committed suicide (leaving a note admitting guilt). So we do know that he WAS a risk to the children now don't we.

It's not a knee jerk reaction, it's a very real concern that someone accused of such matters can continue in a position of trust with children.

Message withdrawn

He could have been toldasked to take an extended holiday, if the powers that be weren't happy with suspension.

No one knew what was going on until he killed himself so it could have been kept under the hat (to protect and "innocent" man if ness.).

He should have been removed and there are ways of doing it without arousing suspicion if nbeed be.

Category five is the most serious child abuse photos (I Won''t use the word porn). In cases like this the person shouldn't receive custodial or other punishment until proven guilty but as soon as accused there should be a mechanism for fast tracking that means the person should be on leave until cleared.