TOM IVEY

TEACHER WHO LED A DOUBLE LIFE CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES BANNED FOR LIFE

A teacher who downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children has been banned from the profession for life.

Tom Ivey, 43, who has changed his name to Sam Thomas, committed the offences while serving as head of history and associate headteacher at Abbeywood Community School, located in Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire.

The individual, who is a father of two, was given a 20-week jail sentence suspended for two years in December 2023 after admitting to possessing 436 indecent child photos and videos found on his Samsung mobile phone.

A professional conduct panel from the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) has now disqualified him from teaching indefinitely with no possibility of reapplication.

This means Ivey is prohibited from working as a teacher in any school, sixth-form college, relevant youth accommodation, or children's home across England.

He had been employed at the school for nearly 19 years.

The chief executive of the Olympus Academy Trust, Dave Baker, who oversees the school, stated that the trust had taken appropriate measures by coordinating with police and authorities and referred the case to the TRA.

He emphasized that the offences were not related to his role at the school, ensuring that the safety and well-being of staff and students were maintained.

Mr.

Baker described Ivey as 'really credible' and well-liked at school, noting that he was leading a double life.

He remarked on the panel’s recent decision as the ‘right outcome’.

In addition to the suspended prison sentence, Ivey was instructed to undertake 40 rehabilitation activity days, adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years, and comply with Sex Offender Notification Requirements for seven years.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154 and prosecution costs of £85.