Teacher who had indecent pictures of children allowed to stay in profession

[Feenie]

Link here

Is it me, or is this a ridiculous and very possibly dangerous decision?

IMO not the best decision!

Yes. I can't understand how he wasn't struck off.
But with his name and history in the public domain, then hopefully it will be a cold day in hell before he get another teaching job, even on supply.
How can anyone have faith in the judgements of the NCT?

That's ridiculous. And his full name is in the press, it won't be long until some pupil of his googles his name and then it will be all over the school.

Won't the CRB check stop him from getting a job?

Hopefully, but why not flag him as barred anyway?

He wasn't very popular or trusted at Yorkshire Martyrs. My oldest son didn't go there but a couple of older friends did. We were discussing this yesterday at a barbecue and neirher of them were surprised. That surely says something.

I can't believe they said he poses no risk to children - looking at the photos alone (and 200 of them, not just 1 although that wouldn't make it right either) means he has further created a need for these pictures. Not worded right, but I hope you understand what I mean.

I'm a teacher and I'm convinced this is the wrong decision. Even IF he was never to do anything worse his position as a teacher is surely untenable in the information age. I can't imagine him being able to manage a classroom now.

I do not understand how they have reached this conclusion. It makes no sense.

oh, you are sexually attracted to children and participate in their abuse by downloading pictures but you aren't a risk to them.

[boggle]

I really wonder why the panel made that choice.

I don't understand how he's been given the all clear . And what parent is going to let their child be taught by him anyway?

Good point Osmiornica.

I don't understand this either.

I am absolutely aghast at this, can you imagine feeling happy that he was teaching your child?!

As a teacher there are some things that mean you have ruined your career and surely this is one of them??

I am disgusted by this. As a teacher and as a parent.

Who would want their child taught (RE of all things!) by this man? Is he responsible for sex ed /PHSE about "good" and bad touching/relationships/secrets/personal safety with a tutor group? Is he aroused by discussing that sort of thing with the children in his care?
Whats going through his mind when he looks at them?

and what decent professional moral person would want to work with him?

makes a mockery of the whole "vetting" thing & belittles a very serious issue.

It's crazy. A department spokesman just said on Radio 5 that 'steps' would be taken to ensure this can't happen again - there ARE steps already, but if the DfE choose to overturn them, then what can be done?

It's like saying 'Ah well, you're only a bit of a paedophile - off you go, back to the classroom'.

Putting any other considerations to one side for a moment, no parents will want him teaching their children, and I can't imagine any schools wanting to employ him.

I'd love to hear the logic behind this decision, I really would.

I'm usually pretty live and let live about things, and I believe in second chances, but even I thought this was an odd decision.

I know don't have the full picture... but I can't help thinking of Mark Bridger's catalogue and someone they interviewed saying it was often the start of really bad things (can't think of the exact words). I mean what kind of child sex-offence image can possibly be 'not too bad' or not indicate that the person viewing it may not be of sound mind?!

I think it is a ridiculous decison, but I doubt he'll be able to find work as a teacher again anyway.

He hasn't been put on the barred list, but he will still have to do a DBS (new CRB) and I can't see any school then employing him with a caution for child pornography, at least I hope not

Bizarre decision - I'd love to know what on earth the panel, and the officials, were thinking. How can they justify allowing him to work as a teacher or in any role that gives him access to young people?

This wasn't a one-off accident, he'd already been cautioned for having images of child abuse and went on to download more over a period of more than a year. This man is not safe to be around children.

I suspect there must be some kind of legal thing behind this, but I am pretty damn sure no school worth its salt would employ him anyway.

Even if there's some legal thing behind this, I can't see any school employing him when it would only take one parent finding out and it spreading around like wildfire. The school would find itself in trouble with parents demanding he's sacked, children removed and sent elsewhere, etc, it would be so damaging to the school's reputation. I just can't see them taking this risk.

Am I wrong in thinking that if you declare a previous conviction then technically you pass the crb anyway?

Bizarre decision though. Very dangerous. My concern would be that a school may not employ him but he could set himself up as a tutor (which would worry me more?) a sole student under his influence would be more at danger than a classroom full after all!