Maths Teacher Faces Professional Ban Following Naked Incident in Residential Area
A former deputy head of mathematics at a prominent academy is facing a potential teaching prohibition after being observed walking completely unclothed in a residential neighbourhood near the River Tyne. Andrew Peacock, who had served at Hetton Academy, asserted his actions were an expression of naturism, but a professional tribunal has ruled his conduct amounted to serious misconduct.
Public Alarm Leads to Police Caution
The incident unfolded on the evening of November 11, 2023, in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear. Two members of the public reported seeing Mr. Peacock walking naked along Ellison Street, a residential area, causing them significant distress and fear. The witnesses recounted feeling "panicked and terrified" and hid from view, uncertain of his intentions.
Police were alerted and subsequently located Mr. Peacock in his parked vehicle. Officers noted he had a grey hoodie placed over his lap with his bare legs visible. He accepted a police caution for a public order offence, specifically for causing harassment, alarm, or distress.
Teaching Regulation Agency Hearing Details
At a virtual hearing of the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) on February 5, 2026, four allegations were presented against Mr. Peacock. These were:
- Being naked in a public place on November 11, 2023.
- Failing to inform his school about his arrest following the incident.
- His conduct constituting a criminal offence for which he accepted a caution.
- His actions being deemed dishonest.
The tribunal panel, comprising Carl Lygo, Suhel Ahmed, and Beverley Williams, found all four allegations proven based on evidence including witness statements, police reports, and a video-taped police interview.
School's Response and Professional Repercussions
Hetton Academy Principal Vicky Pinkney provided evidence, stating she was only informed of the arrest over a week later by the local authority designated officer, not by Mr. Peacock himself. She expressed serious concerns about the impact of his behaviour, noting she was "quite shocked" that he believed his naturism did not affect the school.
Mr. Peacock, who had been employed at the academy since 2013 and served as deputy head of maths from 2022, resigned in 2024 prior to an internal disciplinary hearing. Principal Pinkney described him as an "okay teacher" with room for improvement in results, but noted no prior disciplinary issues despite some periods of absence.
Defence and Tribunal Findings
During proceedings, Mr. Peacock maintained he was a naturist and had been delivering food before deciding to take a brief walk by the river, spending less than a minute outdoors. He claimed he took "reasonable steps" to avoid being seen and accepted the police caution to avoid media attention and protect the school's reputation.
The tribunal did not accept his defence. Panel chair Carl Lygo stated that as an experienced teacher, Mr. Peacock would have been familiar with safeguarding responsibilities. The panel concluded his behaviour "fell significantly short of the standards expected" and constituted unacceptable professional conduct that could bring the teaching profession into disrepute.
The tribunal will now deliberate on whether to recommend a teaching ban to the Secretary of State for Education, a decision that will determine Mr. Peacock's future in the profession.
