September 5th 2024.
David Goode, a music teacher at the prestigious Eton College, has been banned from teaching for life following a disturbing discovery on his work laptop. The famed organist, who had previously performed at the Proms and had a significant following on Spotify, was suspended from his role in December 2021 after his searches triggered a warning on the school's IT system. The searches, which included phrases such as 'gay little boys', 'cute thai boys', and 'Algerian gay boys', were sexually motivated and occurred on at least 229 occasions throughout the year.
After being arrested on suspicion of possessing and distributing indecent images of children, Goode was released without charges. However, he admitted to his actions being sexually motivated and resigned from his position at Eton ahead of a disciplinary hearing in April 2022. The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) conducted a hearing and found Goode guilty of unacceptable professional conduct that could bring the teaching profession into disrepute. As a result, Goode was banned from teaching for life and will not be allowed to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.
In his statement to the TRA, Goode expressed remorse and apologized for his actions, stating that he is taking steps to address his behavior. He also mentioned that he has been placed on the Children's Barred List and is pursuing a career outside of teaching. The decision to ban Goode from teaching for life was made by David Otley, who spoke on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education.
This was not the first incident involving Goode and inappropriate online behavior. In 2017, he had been warned about accessing pornographic material on his laptop, but no legal action was taken. However, this latest discovery was deemed particularly serious by the TRA due to the nature of the searches and the potential harm to young people. Eton College fully supported the decision to ban Goode from teaching, stating that the safety and wellbeing of all young people is their top priority.
Eton College also clarified that they had been diligent in monitoring and reporting Goode's actions, with the 2017 incident being promptly reported to the authorities. While there is no evidence to suggest that any Eton pupil was at risk during Goode's employment, the school remains committed to maintaining rigorous safeguarding practices. Eton is known as one of the most prestigious schools in the country, with high annual fees and a list of notable alumni, including former prime ministers David Cameron and Boris Johnson. It is a place where pupils, parents, and staff should feel confident in raising any concerns about safeguarding.
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