A former headteacher from the Reading area who made illegal sexual images of children has been banned from teaching for life.
Gerard Heaton, who previously served as a headteacher and supply teacher, has been banned from the education profession indefinitely following his conviction for making illegal indecent images of children.
He had worked at multiple schools in Berkshire, which included stints as the headteacher of Lambourn Primary School, Inkpen Primary School and Hungerford Primary School.
Between 2015 and 2022, Mr Heaton worked at various schools as a supply teacher at West Berkshire Council managed schools.
He has now been banned from teaching and childcare indefinitely following a professional conduct meeting by the Teaching Regulation Agency.
A meeting report lays out how Mr Heaton was sentenced for producing child sexual abuse material, which involved making illegal indecent images of children.
The report states that he was found guilty of three counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children.
He also published an ‘obscene article’ which described sexual activity in a gratuitous manner, which included young boys engaging in sexual activities with older men.
Mr Heaton was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for two years, to engage in rehabilitation for a maximum of 30 days, to have his laptop and iPad forfeited and destroyed, to register with the police for 10 years and to a seven-year sexual harm prevention order.
In respect of the conviction for publishing an obscene article, Mr Heaton was sentenced to six months imprisonment and a seven-year sexual harm prevention order.
He was sentenced for these offences at Reading Magistrates Court in March 2023.
The panel found these allegations were proven.
Mr Heaton, of Bradley Close, Kintbury, had Theale Church of England Primary School named as his former employer in the panel report.
At the time of his conviction in January 2023, a letter to parents and guardians of pupils at the school stated that there was ‘no suggestion at this present time Mr Gerard Heaton took part in any illegal activity in West Berkshire schools’.
A decision was therefore made to ban Mr Heaton from work with children indefinitely without possibility for review.
The report explains: “This means that Mr Gerard Heaton is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.
“Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Heaton shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.”
He was officially banned from working with children in an order made by Marc Cavey, the chief executive of the Teaching Regulation Agency, which is sponsored by the Department for Education.
The order was published on Monday, May 19.
