Teacher banned for life over child sex offences

A TEACHER convicted of child sex offences has been banned from the profession for life.

Harvey McGough, 55, the former head of design and technology at Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning, was found to be unsuitable by a professional conduct panel.

The decision comes after he was found guilty of making indecent photographs of children and of possession of prohibited images of children at Reading Crown Court in 2021.

McGough was employed at the independent school from January 2008 until his resignation in March 2021 after police launched an investigation.

On January 4, 2021, Thames Valley Police requested information about an email address, which turned out to be McGough’s.

On January 19, a Wokingham council officer contacted members of the school about safeguarding concerns relating to McGough, who was suspended while the investigation continued.

The following day, the school received a letter from the police confirming that McGough had been arrested on January 19 for possessing an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph — an image made by computer graphics — of a child. He was convicted on November 2 that year after admitting the offences and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months.

He was also made the subject of a sex offenders’ notice, a sexual harm prevention order, and a requirement to register with the police, all for a period of 10 years. His phone containing images was forfeited and destroyed.

The conduct panel considered the case for the Teaching Regulation Agency on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education. McGough had requested no hearing.

The panel ruled that McGough had breached the professional standards for teaching.

The panel noted that although McGough’s actions did not appear to involve a pupil or a colleague at Reading Blue Coat School, his actions were relevant to teaching, working with children and working in an education setting, in particular because he had made and possessed indecent images of children and used his work email address.

The panel noted that the behaviour involved in committing the offence could have had an impact on the safety or security of pupils and members of the public.

It considered McGough’s behaviour could “undoubtedly” affect public confidence in the teaching profession, particularly given the influence that teachers may have on pupils, parents and others in the community.

It said 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 and noted that his behaviour ultimately led to a sentence of imprisonment, albeit suspended, which was indicative of the seriousness of the offences.

The panel found the seriousness of the offences was relevant to McGough’s ongoing suitability to teach and said that public confidence in the profession could be seriously weakened if McGough was not treated with the “utmost seriousness”.

The panel decided that there was no evidence that McGough’s actions were not deliberate nor was there evidence to suggest that McGough was acting under extreme duress.

It found his actions to be “calculated” and “motivated”.

McGough did not provide any mitigation and the panel said there was limited evidence of regret, remorse or insight.

It said there were positive statements about his teaching history and ability but did not consider that this outweighed the seriousness of the allegations.

The panel made a recommendation that a prohibition order should be imposed with immediate effect.

Marc Cavey, on behalf of the Secretary of State, approved the recommendation to “maintain public confidence” in the teaching profession.

“He said: “In my judgement, the lack of full insight means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils.

“I have therefore given this element considerable weight in reaching my decision. This means that Harvey McGough is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

“Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that he shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.”

In 2020, McGough worked with Leighton Park School in Reading to produce more than 6,000 protective visors for NHS and private medical staff treating coronavirus patients across Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

A spokeswoman for Reading Blue Coat School said: “ This is a deeply distressing situation for the school community concerning a former member of staff.

“The offences did not involve any of our students in any way. The highest priority for the school is the safety and wellbeing of our students.”