Matthew Hargreaves, the headteacher of King's Northway Primary Academy in Wavertree, Liverpool, has been charged with multiple offences relating to indecent images of children. The 47-year-old faces three counts of making indecent images of children, covering categories A, B, and C, as well as one count of taking category C indecent images. The charges were confirmed by Merseyside Police, who stated that Hargreaves remains in custody awaiting his next court appearance.
Arrest and Suspension
Hargreaves was arrested earlier this year and immediately suspended from his role as principal. Shane Ierston, chief executive of Great Schools Trust, which oversees the academy, told the Liverpool Echo: "As soon as we learned of Matthew Hargreaves's arrest earlier this year, he was suspended from his role at King's Northway Primary Academy. Since then, we have been liaising with the relevant authorities. The offences do not relate to his employment at the school and, as the matter is subject to ongoing court proceedings, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our main priority, and we are offering any support they may need at this difficult time."
Details of the Charges
Merseyside Police confirmed that Hargreaves, of Deepdale Avenue in Rochdale, faces charges of making category A, B, and C indecent images of children, and an additional charge of taking category C indecent images. The offence of making an indecent image is not limited to capturing a photograph but includes downloading, storing, or accessing an email attachment. The maximum penalty for such an offence is 10 years in prison. The specific nature of the accusations has not been disclosed.
A police spokesperson said: "Hargreaves remains in custody awaiting his next court appearance. Our specialist online child abuse investigations team continues to progress extensive and thorough enquiries into this matter. We are working with partner agencies to ensure all necessary safeguarding measures are taken. Please note that a live investigation is ongoing and people are reminded to refrain from publishing any information on social media platforms which may impact on the investigation."
School's Response
A letter from acting headteacher Mark Newton was sent to parents and carers on Wednesday, informing them of the developments. In the letter, obtained by the Liverpool Echo, Newton stated: "As soon as we were informed of his arrest several weeks ago by police colleagues, he was immediately suspended from his role as principal as part of robust local authority and Great Schools Trust safeguarding procedures." He reiterated that the charges do not involve students at the school. The letter added: "We understand that this news is concerning. Please be assured that the safety and wellbeing of our pupils remain our highest priority. During this time, we are making support available to any members of our school community who may need it."
Background and Removal of Online Presence
Hargreaves had served as principal at King's Northway Primary Academy since 2019. Following his arrest, his LinkedIn profile was deleted, and the school removed all mentions of him from its website, newsletters, and social media channels. However, an archived image of Hargreaves and confirmation from multiple parents verified his identity. The school serves approximately 420 pupils aged three to 11. Since converting to academy status, it has not received an Ofsted rating, though previously it was assessed as requiring improvement.
The Liverpool Echo has contacted the Crown Prosecution Service and Liverpool City Council for comment. A police spokesperson urged anyone affected by sexual violence to come forward: "If you have been affected by sexual violence of any kind don't be afraid to tell someone, find the courage to come forward and get the help you deserve."
