Gove attacked over porn teacher at Yorkshire Catholic school

Philip Davies (Shipley) urged the Education Secretary to come to the Commons to explain himself after Geoffrey Bettley, 36, was reinstated as a teacher following the incident.

Mr Bettley was suspended from St Mary’s Catholic School in Menston, near Ilkley, in December 2010 after police found nearly 200 child abuse images on his computer.

He accepted a police caution and was dismissed by the school following a disciplinary hearing in December 2011.

But a professional conduct panel has ruled that the RE teacher should be allowed to return to teaching after concluding he “does not represent a risk to children and young people”.

Speaking during the weekly Commons business statement, Mr Davies said: “He downloaded child porn images and was rightly sacked by the school and put on the sex offenders register.

“In a decision which has been ratified by the Education Secretary, he’s now been told he’s allowed back to teach again.

“I’m sure you will appreciate many parents will be deeply disturbed someone who has been convicted of downloading child porn should be allowed to teach again.

“Can we have a statement from the Education Secretary so he can explain what on earth he was thinking about when he allowed this person to teach again?”

Responding, Commons Leader Andrew Lansley said: “I have read the press reports relating to this matter and of course it was a decision taken by the National College of Teaching and Leadership, which was then endorsed by a senior official at the department.

“I will, of course, contact Mr Gove so he might be able to give you an account of the process in this case.”