Teacher struck off over explicit Twitter posts

Peter Hoare was banned indefinitely from teaching in England

A teacher has been banned indefinitely from the profession after he posted explicit content of himself on social media.

Peter Hoare, 34, was a teacher at Three Peaks Primary Academy in Tamworth, Staffordshire, from 2012 until he resigned in June 2022.

A professional conduct panel heard that a Twitter account belonging to Mr Hoare, which included posts with pictures of his genitals and of him engaging in sexual activity, was reported by a parent after he stepped down.

The profile, which did not include posts of anyone underage, was active between August 2018 and March 2023.

The panel heard Mr Hoare admitted the account was his and accepted that he posted the content which included a video in a public place.

He said he had started the account in 2018 for personal use and began posting pictures and videos of himself in 2020.

According to the panel’s report, Mr Hoare said he was “unhappy with a lot of elements in his life” and that the change in the nature of his posts “was a reflection of this”.

He also admitted the allegation of making comments about drug use but that these were about the use of “poppers”, which are legal, and not any illicit drugs, the panel heard.

'Unacceptable manner'

It was found that while there was nothing on the profile that linked it to the school, Mr Hoare was “clearly identifiable” from the content.

The report said the posts started before Mr Hoare left the school and “in the context of him being a teacher”.

“The panel were mindful of the fact that it was not their role to cast any judgement on Mr Hoare’s private lifestyle or activities but that the severity of the conduct lay in the fact of the public nature of the explicit posts that Mr Hoare had made in which he was clearly identifiable,” it said.

“The panel considered that any teacher making repeated posts of this nature was likely to have acted in an unacceptable manner.”

His behaviour amounted to unprofessional conduct that could bring the profession into disrepute, the report added.

Mr Hoare was barred indefinitely from teaching in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

The report said he was not entitled to apply for the prohibition order to be removed due to the seriousness of the allegations proved against him.