Teacher banned over indecent images conviction

Simon Wood was a history teacher at Wetherby High School

A teacher who admitted making indecent photographs of a child has been banned from the profession indefinitely.

Simon Wood, 45, from Mirfield, West Yorkshire, was a teacher at Wetherby High School when he was arrested in November 2022 and his devices were seized.

He admitted two counts of making indecent photographs of a child and was given a community order at Leeds Crown Court in June 2024. The offences were not connected to the school, a spokesperson for Wetherby High School said.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) ruled last month that he cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, youth accommodation or children's home in England.

Wood was not present at the virtual meeting of the professional conduct panel, which took place on 27 March, the TRA said.

The panel concluded that although the offences took place outside the school, his actions were clearly relevant to his teaching role.

Wood was sentenced on 3 June 2024 to a community order for 18 months, the panel heard, with rehabilitation activity requirements, forfeiture of seized devices and payment of a victim surcharge of £114.

He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

A spokesperson for Wetherby High School said Wood was suspended at the time of his arrest and was no longer employed by the school.

"All appropriate safeguarding processes and procedures have been followed," they said.

A report from the TRA said that while Wood's actions did not lead to a prison sentence, his conviction "would be likely to significantly affect the public confidence in the teaching profession if the teacher were allowed to continue teaching".

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