Reading teacher banned from classrooms over indecent image offences
A Reading teacher has been permanently banned from the classroom after being convicted of offences involving indecent images of children.
Last updated 19th May 2025
A teacher has been banned from teaching in England for life after a professional conduct panel found that he had been convicted of making indecent images of children and publishing an obscene article.
Gerard Heaton, 59, who had worked as a headteacher in Reading and also taught in other schools in west Berkshire, was banned following a hearing by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) in April 2025. The prohibition order was confirmed by the decision-maker acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education.
He was convicted of three counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children and one count of publishing an obscene article. He pleaded guilty to the offences and was sentenced at Reading Crown Court in March 2023 to eight months in prison, suspended for two years.
The offences took place between 2015 and 2022. The TRA panel noted that this showed a pattern of behaviour over several years during his time as a teacher.
In the sentencing transcript, search terms used by Heaton included “clinks” and “young boy porn”. The panel said these terms did not support his claim that one of the offences was accidental.
The panel said: “The panel did not consider Mr Heaton had shown meaningful insight. The panel considered the comments in the sentencing transcript which identified positive search terms used by Mr Heaton including ‘clinks’ or ‘young boy porn’. The panel considered this did not align with his view that he had committed the crime associated with allegation 1(a) by accident and without intent.”
The panel also said: “The panel found no evidence of Mr Heaton truly acknowledging the harm to children involved in such offences.”
The TRA considered whether publishing the findings of the conviction alone would be enough but decided that a prohibition order was necessary to maintain public confidence in the profession.
The decision-maker said: “In my view, it is necessary to impose a prohibition order in order to maintain public confidence in the profession.”
No review period has been allowed, meaning Heaton is banned from teaching permanently and cannot apply to return to the classroom. He may appeal the decision to the High Court within 28 days of being informed.