Mr Harvey McGough

Introduction

Harvey McGough was head of design and technology at Reading Blue Coat School in Reading from 1 January 2008 until his resignation on 16 March 2021. In November 2021 he was convicted of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children and of possessing prohibited images of children, offences committed on 19 January 2021, and received a six-month prison sentence suspended for 24 months along with 10-year sex offender registration and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He admitted the allegations before a Teaching Regulation Agency panel through signed statements of agreed facts, and the case was decided without a hearing at a private virtual meeting. On 4 December 2023 the decision maker, Marc Cavey, prohibited him from teaching indefinitely, with no review period and no entitlement to apply for restoration.

Background Information

McGough led the design and technology department at Reading Blue Coat School for over a decade. On 4 January 2021, Thames Valley Police contacted the school requesting information about an email address later established to be McGough’s. On 19 January 2021 the Wokingham LADO contacted the school about safeguarding concerns relating to him, and he was suspended the same day while the police investigation continued. The next day the school received a letter from the police confirming he had been arrested the previous day for possessing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child. Rather than face the outcome of the disciplinary process, McGough resigned with immediate effect on 16 March 2021.

The panel later noted that although his actions did not appear to involve a pupil or colleague at the school, he had utilised his work email address for the offending, making the conduct directly relevant to teaching and to working with children. The panel also noted there was some evidence demonstrating high standards in both his personal and professional conduct, including positive statements about his teaching history and ability.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

Admitted misconduct. Mr McGough admitted the allegations in a statement of agreed facts signed on 20 May 2023 and again in an amended version signed on 28 November 2023, further admitting that his behaviour amounted to conviction of a relevant offence. The TRA agreed to his request that the allegations be considered without a hearing, and a panel considered the case on 1 December 2023 at a private virtual meeting with neither the presenting officer nor McGough nor any representative present. The panel found both allegations proved. His convictions stand as court record: on 2 November 2021 he was convicted of three counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Protection of Children Act 1978 and one count of possessing prohibited images of children contrary to section 62(1) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, having pleaded guilty to all offences.

The allegation timetable stated that on or around 2 November 2021 he was sentenced at Reading Crown Court for the three making offences, and on or around 3 November 2021 at the same court for the possession offence, both sets of offending dated to 19 January 2021. The panel accepted the certificate of conviction from Reading Magistrates Court as conclusive proof of the convictions and the facts necessarily implied by them, there being no exceptional circumstances, and was satisfied on the documents and his admissions that both allegations were proved. The sentence comprised six months imprisonment suspended for 24 months, a Sex Offenders Notice for 10 years, a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years, a requirement to register with the police for 10 years, £425 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service, a £128 victim surcharge, and an order for forfeiture and destruction of a Samsung mobile containing seized images.

Public Reaction and Consequences

The panel found no evidence that McGough’s actions were not deliberate; it found them calculated and motivated, with no suggestion he acted under extreme duress. He provided no mitigation evidence, and the panel found limited evidence of regret, remorse or insight. It noted his behaviour ultimately led to a sentence of imprisonment, albeit suspended, which was indicative of the seriousness of the offences, and that the offences — making and possessing indecent images of children — are conduct the Secretary of State’s advice treats as more likely to be a relevant offence, including one-off incidents. The panel found both allegations proved and the convictions to be convictions of relevant offences, in breach of the Teachers’ Standards, and recommended a prohibition order with immediate effect. On review, it weighed his admissions and the volume of images recovered despite his attempts to delete his browsing history, and decided a review period would not be appropriate.

Current Status

Marc Cavey’s decision on behalf of the Secretary of State, dated 4 December 2023, followed the panel’s recommendation. McGough is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. The decision maker placed considerable weight on the serious nature of the findings and the lack of evidence of full insight and remorse, judging that the risk of repetition put the future wellbeing of pupils at risk, and agreed that allowing no review period was necessary to maintain public confidence in the profession. McGough is not entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach. The order takes effect from the date it is served, with a right of appeal to the King’s Bench Division of the High Court within 28 days.

Impact on Their Career/Life

McGough’s thirteen years at Reading Blue Coat School ended in resignation rather than dismissal, but the criminal convictions and the prohibition order together close the door permanently: with no review period, he can never apply to be reinstated as a teacher in England. The published decision records that he used his work email address in offending against children, and his 10-year registration requirement and sexual harm prevention order continue to bind him independently of the teaching ban.

Sources

• Teaching Regulation Agency, “Teacher misconduct panel outcome: Mr Harvey McGough” — source