A former Isle of Wight science teacher has been barred from teaching for life after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children.
It was in 2020 that Simon Baker, who taught at Christ the King College between 2016 and 2019, was convicted of possessing more than 9,000 indecent images and videos of children and animals.
Baker, from Northwood in Cowes, received a 2-year prison sentence – suspended for 24 months – after admitting a string of sexual offences, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Now, the Teaching Regulation Agency has held a professional conduct panel meeting to decide on the future of Baker’s career.
The meeting found that Baker was in breach of the Teachers’ Standards and that his conduct fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession. It was also found that the conviction was clearly incompatible with the role of a teacher, who is a person placed in a position of trust with a duty of care to their pupils.
The panel considered mitigating factors including Baker’s previous good character and the fact he pleaded guilty to the criminal charges and had cooperated with the Authority. However, in the panel’s view, there was evidence of deliberate and repeated actions over a period of 9 years, according to the remarks by the sentencing judge.
It has now been recommended to the Secretary of State that Simon Baker should be the subject of a prohibition order, with no provision for a review period. It means that Baker 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, he shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.
As well as being given a suspended sentence at the Isle of Wight Crown Court in February 2020, Simon Baker was handed an 18-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of 10 years.
And the school says it’s safe lol
Come on, how would the school know what he had on his computer at home when they employed him?
That’s the problem, isn’t it, there’s no way of knowing who these people are until they are caught. He probably looked just like a regular person. I’m pretty sure they don’t have it tattooed on their foreheads that they are paedophiles.
Another one to hang!!
Blunt shears at the ready !!!!!
Bobbit !!!!!
Happy to oblige !!!!!
Suspended sentence !!!!!
Joke…. he should be Suspended ( from a noose) ……
Unnecessary to use a picture of the school as your lead photo.