Teacher banned for inappropriate child images

A teacher has been banned from the profession for life after being convicted of making "a high volume" of indecent images of children.

Timothy Fenn, who taught at Ormiston New Academy, Wolverhampton, was given a suspended sentence in May last year after being convicted of three counts of the offence, a tribunal said.

At a meeting in private, a Teaching Regulation Agency panel recommended the imposition of a prohibition order to the secretary of state for education.

The order was agreed on 30 April, meaning Fenn, who was new to the profession, is prohibited from teaching indefinitely.

The panel's published decision states Fenn was convicted at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 3 February last year, and sentenced on 7 May.

It considered his conduct had breached professional standards, including that teachers should uphold public trust and safeguard pupils' wellbeing.

"Teachers are expected to be alert to the dangers of abuse of children at all times, and material of this nature is contrary to that," its decision noted.

Although the offender had taken "rehabilitative steps" following his conviction, it determined the seriousness of his conduct impaired his ongoing suitability to teach.

In addition, the panel noted: "The sentencing remarks made it evident that the offending behaviour took place over the period of a year and included a high volume of indecent images, with over 141 Category A images."

Stuart Blomfield, the decision-maker on behalf of the secretary of state, said a "lack of evidence of insight means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour".

The banning order means Fenn "is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England," he wrote.

"Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegation found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Fenn shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach."

The former teacher has 28 days to appeal to the High Court.

Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.