Matthew Hargreaves, the principal of King's Northway Primary Academy in Wavertree, Liverpool, has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children. The 47-year-old, of Deepdale Avenue in Rochdale, was arrested earlier this year and has since been suspended from his role.
Suspension and School Response
Shane Ierston, chief executive of Great Schools Trust, which oversees King's Northway Primary, stated: "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."
Charges and Legal Context
Merseyside Police confirmed that Hargreaves has been charged with making category A, category B, and category C indecent images of children. The charge of making an indecent image is not limited to physically taking a photograph; it extends to downloading, saving, or opening an email attachment. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment. The specific nature of the allegations has not yet been disclosed.
A police spokesperson told the ECHO: "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."
Letter to Parents
Acting principal Mark Newton sent a letter to parents and carers on Wednesday, informing them of the developments. In the letter, seen by the ECHO, Newton wrote: "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 stressed that the charges do not involve students at the school. The letter also urged the community not to share information on social media that could affect the investigation.
Background and School Profile
Hargreaves had been principal at King's Northway Primary Academy since 2019, according to the ECHO. His LinkedIn page, which detailed his employment history, has since been deleted. The school has removed all references to Hargreaves from its website, newsletters, and social media. An archived image of Hargreaves was found, and multiple parents confirmed his identity.
King's Northway Primary Academy caters to children aged three to 11, with an enrolment of around 420 pupils. The school has not been graded by Ofsted since becoming an academy, but under its previous name it was rated as requiring improvement.
The ECHO has also approached the Crown Prosecution Service and Liverpool City Council for comment.
A police spokesperson added: "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."
