The Department for Education has announced that anyone cautioned or prosecuted for child pornography offences in the future will be banned from teaching. The statement comes amid mounting pressure on Education Secretary Michael Gove to explain why his department approved the reinstatement of a teacher who downloaded indecent images of children.
Geoffrey Bettley, 36, a former RE teacher at St Mary's Catholic School in Menston, West Yorkshire, was found with nearly 200 child abuse images on his computer. He accepted a police caution in December 2010 and was dismissed by the school in December 2011. However, a professional conduct panel ruled that he should be allowed to return to teaching, concluding that he 'does not represent a risk to children and young people'. The decision was signed off by a senior official at the Department for Education.
Conservative MP Philip Davies, whose Shipley constituency includes the school, expressed deep concern. Speaking in the Commons, he said: 'He downloaded child porn images and was rightly sacked by the school and put on the sex offenders register. In a decision which has been ratified by the Education Secretary, he's now been told he's allowed back to teach again.' Davies called for a statement from Mr Gove to explain the decision.
Commons Leader Andrew Lansley said he would contact Mr Gove to provide an account of the process. The Department for Education is now revising guidance to ensure that in future, anyone cautioned or prosecuted for child pornography offences is prohibited from teaching. It remains unclear whether this change will apply retrospectively to Mr Bettley.
