Teacher banned over indecent images of children

A former deputy headteacher at a boarding school has been banned indefinitely from teaching after he was found with indecent images of children.

Andrew Morris was suspended from his senior role at Brambletye School in East Grinstead, West Sussex, after he was arrested in 2020 on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children.

The 45-year-old was put on the sex offenders register for five years and given an 18-month community order at West Sussex Magistrates' Court in August 2021 after admitting making indecent photographs of children.

A Teaching Regulation Agency panel has now banned him from teaching in England and has said he would not be entitled to apply to teach again.

The panel concluded that Morris "failed in his duty to protect public trust and confidence in the profession by his serious and illegal misconduct".

A statement from Brambletye School said: "We were informed of serious allegations against Mr Morris in April 2020.

"He was suspended by the school with immediate effect and not permitted to return to the school site."

The school said none of its pupils were involved.

A school spokesperson said: "The fact that any member of our community could behave in such a way is a devastating betrayal of our trust and goes against everything that the school stands for."

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.