A FORMER assistant headteacher at a primary school in Bradford has been banned from the profession for life after distributing indecent images of children.
Robert Sutcliffe, 38, was working at Knowleswood Primary School, in Holme Wood when he was arrested on March 30, 2021.
The matter was referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) in April 2021 and he was sacked that same month, according to a spokesperson for the Exceed Academies Trust which now runs the school but was not involved at the time.
Sutcliffe admitted distributing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court on July 14, 2022.
This included: five category A images – the worst grading and involving penetrative sexual activity, sexual activity with an animal or sadism – four category B images and five category C images.
He was sentenced on August 4, 2022 at Leeds Crown Court.
The court handed Sutcliffe a 20-month jail term, suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to complete up to 35 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days, pay a surcharge of £156 to fund victim services, and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.
A TRA panel convened on April 3 this year and recommended a lifelong prohibition order from teaching for Sutcliffe, which Sarah Buxcey – the decision maker on behalf of the Secretary of State - agreed with.
A report from the meeting, published on Tuesday, showed that the panel accepted Sutcliffe’s request for the allegations to be considered without a hearing.
The panel determined a hearing was not “necessary or appropriate” in “the interests of justice or in the public interest” for this case.
A spokesperson for the Exceed Academies Trust said the offences do not relate to any children educated at the school.
But the report said, “the behaviour involved in committing the offence would have undoubtedly had an impact on the safety and/or security of pupils and/or members of the public.”
It added that this was noted within the judge’s sentencing remarks.
Sutcliffe joined Knowleswood Primary School on September 1, 2011 and there was no evidence that he “had any heightened ability as an educator” or had “contributed significantly to the education sector”, according to the report.
The panel considered that the public interest considerations “far outweighed any interest in retaining Mr Sutcliffe in the profession, since his behaviour fundamentally ran contrary to the standard of conduct expected of a teacher”.
There was no evidence that Sutcliffe’s actions were not deliberate and nothing was put before the panel relating to insight and remorse on his part.
The panel noted that the sentencing remarks stated Sutcliffe expressed “substantial remorse” and had “gone voluntarily to try and deal with some of the issues that are underlying this behaviour”.
But Ms Buxcey said: “In my judgement, the lack of full insight or remorse means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils.”
The Exceed Academies Trust made the following statement on behalf of the school: “We are aware of the recent TRA judgement made against Mr Sutcliffe and support this action.
“Knowleswood Primary School joined Exceed Academies Trust on 1st May 2023, at which point Mr Sutcliffe was no longer an employee of the school, his employment terminating in April 2021.
“The offences referred to in the TRA judgement do not relate to any children educated at the school and were committed 2 years prior to our stewardship.
“We are confident that robust safeguarding measures are secure within the school and we continue to ensure that all children in our care are protected.”
Sutcliffe has been banned from teaching indefinitely and cannot apply for the restoration of his eligibility to teach.
This means he is prohibited from teaching in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.
Sutcliffe has the right to appeal to the High Court within 28 days from the date he is given notice of the order.
