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Michael Gove under pressure over teacher who viewed child abuse images Michael Gove under pressure over teacher who viewed child abuse images
(4 months later)
Michael Gove was under increasing pressure to explain why his department approved a decision to allow a teacher who downloaded child abuse images back into the classroom.Michael Gove was under increasing pressure to explain why his department approved a decision to allow a teacher who downloaded child abuse images back into the classroom.
The education secretary has been urged to appear in the Commons to tell MPs why Geoffrey Bettley was reinstated after being cautioned by police for possessing an indecent image of a child.The education secretary has been urged to appear in the Commons to tell MPs why Geoffrey Bettley was reinstated after being cautioned by police for possessing an indecent image of a child.
Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, said that many parents would be "deeply disturbed" that Bettley, 36, had been allowed to teach again.Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, said that many parents would be "deeply disturbed" that Bettley, 36, had been allowed to teach again.
Bettley was suspended from St Mary's Catholic school in Menston, West Yorkshire, in December 2010 after police found nearly 200 child abuse images on his computer. He accepted a police caution and was dismissed by the school following a disciplinary hearing in December 2011.Bettley was suspended from St Mary's Catholic school in Menston, West Yorkshire, in December 2010 after police found nearly 200 child abuse images on his computer. He accepted a police caution and was dismissed by the school following a disciplinary hearing in December 2011.
But a professional conduct panel has ruled that the RE teacher should be allowed to return to teaching after concluding 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.But a professional conduct panel has ruled that the RE teacher should be allowed to return to teaching after concluding 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.
Speaking during the weekly Commons business statement, Davies said: "He downloaded child porn images and was rightly sacked by the school and put on the sex offenders register.Speaking during the weekly Commons business statement, Davies 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."In a decision which has been ratified by the education secretary, he's now been told he's allowed back to teach again.
"I'm sure you will appreciate many parents will be deeply disturbed someone who has been convicted of downloading child porn should be allowed to teach again."I'm sure you will appreciate many parents will be deeply disturbed someone who has been convicted of downloading child porn should be allowed to teach again.
"Can we have a statement from the education secretary so he can explain what on Earth he was thinking about when he allowed this person to teach again?""Can we have a statement from the education secretary so he can explain what on Earth he was thinking about when he allowed this person to teach again?"
The Commons leader, Andrew Lansley, replied: "I have read the press reports relating to this matter and of course it was a decision taken by the National College of Teaching and Leadership, which was then endorsed by a senior official at the department.The Commons leader, Andrew Lansley, replied: "I have read the press reports relating to this matter and of course it was a decision taken by the National College of Teaching and Leadership, which was then endorsed by a senior official at the department.
I will, of course, contact Mr Gove so he might be able to give you an account of the process in this case."I will, of course, contact Mr Gove so he might be able to give you an account of the process in this case."
In its judgment, the National College of Teaching and Leadership professional conduct panel said the images viewed by Bettley were "not at the most serious end" of the Copine scale – the rating system used to categorise the severity of images of child sex abuse – and there were "relatively few" on his computer.In its judgment, the National College of Teaching and Leadership professional conduct panel said the images viewed by Bettley were "not at the most serious end" of the Copine scale – the rating system used to categorise the severity of images of child sex abuse – and there were "relatively few" on his computer.
The panel said it had considered it safe to conclude that the teacher "does not pose a risk to children".The panel said it had considered it safe to conclude that the teacher "does not pose a risk to children".
While Bettley's actions were a "serious departure" from the official teachers' standards, the panel said, it added that it did not consider that there was evidence of "a deep seated attitude on the part of Bettley which leads to harmful behaviour".While Bettley's actions were a "serious departure" from the official teachers' standards, the panel said, it added that it did not consider that there was evidence of "a deep seated attitude on the part of Bettley which leads to harmful behaviour".
The panel's report added: "In the circumstances, the panel does not consider that it would be appropriate to recommend prohibition to the secretary of state and it does not."The panel's report added: "In the circumstances, the panel does not consider that it would be appropriate to recommend prohibition to the secretary of state and it does not."
At the end of the panel's report, under a section on the secretary of state's decision and reasons, a senior DfE official said: "Although the findings in this case are serious ones, for the reasons set out, I support the recommendation of the panel that a prohibition order should not be applied in this case."At the end of the panel's report, under a section on the secretary of state's decision and reasons, a senior DfE official said: "Although the findings in this case are serious ones, for the reasons set out, I support the recommendation of the panel that a prohibition order should not be applied in this case."
Mr Bettley was employed at St Mary's from September 2001 to December 2011. He visited a website in March 2009 where he viewed six child abuse images, according to the panel's ruling.Mr Bettley was employed at St Mary's from September 2001 to December 2011. He visited a website in March 2009 where he viewed six child abuse images, according to the panel's ruling.
When his computer was seized by the police in December 2010, 143 images were found at level one of the Copine scale, which covers nudity and/or erotic posing. A further 46 images considered to be at level three on the scale were found but had not been opened, the panel said.When his computer was seized by the police in December 2010, 143 images were found at level one of the Copine scale, which covers nudity and/or erotic posing. A further 46 images considered to be at level three on the scale were found but had not been opened, the panel said.
Bettley acknowledged that the images were of underage children and were child abuse images and admitted to police that he had accessed and viewed the images, the panel said.Bettley acknowledged that the images were of underage children and were child abuse images and admitted to police that he had accessed and viewed the images, the panel said.
He was cautioned for the offence of possessing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child and placed on the sex offenders register for two years, according to the ruling.He was cautioned for the offence of possessing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child and placed on the sex offenders register for two years, according to the ruling.
A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "We keep the process under review because of legal complexities and we are examining whether this case was handled correctly."A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "We keep the process under review because of legal complexities and we are examining whether this case was handled correctly."
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