James McMurray

Introduction

James McMurray was a supply teacher at King Edward VI Community College in Devon until his arrest in November 2022. In April 2024 he was convicted at Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court of publishing an obscene article and of three counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, receiving a total of 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months. The school referred him to the Teaching Regulation Agency, whose professional conduct panel found both allegations proved in September 2026 and recommended a prohibition order with no review period. On the Secretary of State’s behalf, decision maker Stuart Blomfield then banned McMurray from teaching indefinitely and ruled that he may never apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.

Background Information

McMurray, born in June 1981, began working at King Edward VI Community College as a Cover Teacher in or around May 2019, engaged through a supply agency. He was directly engaged by the school as a Supply Teacher on 8 November 2021. He was arrested on 17 November 2022, and his engagement by the school ended on or around 18 November 2022, after which the school referred the matter to the TRA. His case was heard in public by a panel sitting at Cheylesmore House, Coventry, on 17 and 18 September 2026, chaired by teacher panellist Melissa West.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

Conviction-based case. The criminal convictions stood as conclusive proof before the TRA panel: McMurray did not materially dispute them, but he did not admit the facts or the allegations, contending instead that the TRA had no jurisdiction to hear the case.

The allegations, set out in a notice of proceedings dated 25 March 2026 and amended at a case management hearing on 2 September 2026, were that he had been convicted of a relevant offence: on or around 24 April 2024 he was convicted at Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court of publishing an obscene article, contrary to section 2(1) of the Obscene Publications Act 1959, and of one or more counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of children, contrary to section 1(a) of the Protection of Children Act 1978. His representative confirmed the convictions were not materially disputed, but the panel proceeded to determine the case.

Working from a Certificate of Conviction dated 7 August 2024, which it accepted as conclusive proof, the panel found both allegations proved. The three making convictions related to four separate images: one Category A, one Category B and two Category C. For the making offences McMurray received eight months’ imprisonment, those counts running concurrently; a further four months for the obscene article made twelve months in total, which the court ordered to run consecutively before suspending the sentence for 24 months. Ancillary orders included a ten-year sexual harm prevention order, a ten-year requirement to register with the police, 200 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 30 days. The panel regarded the making convictions as inherently connected to the sexual exploitation of children, and gave particular weight to the presence of a Category A image.

Mitigation fared poorly. His representative submitted that the images were historic in nature, found on electronic devices McMurray had “hoarded” and not accessed in several years, but the panel held that this did not detract from the gravity of the offending, noting that no supporting evidence had been presented and that an explanation had been given for only one of the two Category C images. Submissions that he had been highly involved in charity work, volunteering and school governance were likewise unsupported by any evidence. The panel found that his written reflections contained no acknowledgement of the seriousness of the offending, and that they were “deflective in nature as they sought to apportion blame for some of the conduct to the School”. Although a TRA witness described him as a competent and capable professional, and his representative said he “regrets” the convictions, the panel found no demonstration of any insight, remorse or reflection. It therefore recommended a prohibition order with no review period, the published Advice listing indecent-image offending, “including one off incidents”, among the cases where the public interest weighs against offering one.

Public Reaction and Consequences

The criminal proceedings left McMurray with a suspended custodial sentence, a decade-long sexual harm prevention order and a decade on the police notification register, alongside 200 hours of unpaid work. His employment ended the day after his arrest, and the school referred him to the TRA. The panel found that his convictions breached the Teachers’ Standards on upholding public trust, treating pupils with dignity, safeguarding pupils’ wellbeing and acting within statutory professional duties. It noted that public confidence in the profession could be seriously weakened if such conduct were not treated with the utmost seriousness, and identified strong public interest considerations in safeguarding pupils, maintaining confidence and upholding proper standards of conduct.

Current Status

McMurray is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. The order carries no review period, and the decision maker determined that he shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach. The order takes effect from the date it is served on him. Stuart Blomfield took the decision on behalf of the Secretary of State on 18 September 2026, accepting the panel’s recommendation in full. McMurray has a right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days of being given notice of the order. The outcome was published on GOV.UK on 2 October 2026.

Impact on Their Career/Life

McMurray’s teaching career in England is permanently closed. Unlike prohibition orders carrying a review period, his leaves no route back: he may not apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach at any point, so no period of rehabilitation or further training could reopen the profession to him. His only legal avenue was an appeal to the High Court within 28 days of notice. Beyond the classroom, the criminal consequences continue to bind him, with the sexual harm prevention order and police registration requirements set to run for ten years from sentencing.

Sources

• Teaching Regulation Agency, “Teacher misconduct panel outcome: Mr James McMurray,” published 2 October 2026 — source