A READING school teacher has been banned from teaching indefinitely after sharing inappropriate images and messages with former students.

James McGiveron, who was a geography and P.E teacher at Denefield School, has been banned by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) after a professional conduct panel in July.

The virtual panel found that the teacher had sent inappropriate messages and images on social media to former students which were of an ‘explicit sexual nature’ and were ‘sexually motivated’.

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He had been messaging former students on Snapchat after adding them on Facebook and encouraged them to send him nude photographs.

As a result, the TRA has prohibited him from teaching indefinity due to the ‘seriousness’ of the allegations found proved against him.

McGiveron was employed at the school from September 2016 until June 2022.

One pupil, who left the school in 2020, was never taught by McGiveron but saw him during break and lunchtimes.

They received a friend request from him on Facebook and the conversation went from ‘normal to weird’ before moving to Snapchat where the teacher asked for nude photographs. The former pupil then blocked him.

Another pupil was also communicating with the teacher on Snapchat and stated that McGiveron had talked about sending nudes, saying it ‘wasn’t a big deal and that everyone does it’.

The teacher told the student he liked ‘bent over poses’ before adding he was ‘horny’ and wanted ‘a picture now’.

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As a result, the pupil sent him a photograph and McGiveron responded with a photo of his erect penis.

A third pupil stated they spoke to McGiveron on Facebook up to five times a week, and stated the teacher messaged ‘relentlessly’.

They started speaking on Snapchat where McGiveron expressed ‘sexual fantasies’ and the pair exchanged nude photographs.

He then asked to meet them for sexual intercourse.

He was arrested in March 2022 for suspecting grooming but responded ‘no comment’ to all questions.

A school disciplinary hearing investigation was then launched where McGiveron stated Snapchat was his main form of communication with family and friends.

He admitted to messaging a pupil but could not recall asking for nude photographs albeit admits he received them and sent one back though could not recall if the photos were ‘inappropriate’.

McGiveron also denied asking to meet a student for sexual intercourse and could not recall expressing ‘sexual fantasies’ to them.

The panel noted that McGiveron was given professional advice by the school in 2020 not to message or otherwise contact a person under the age of 18, unless he also copied in their parent/carer, or if they were a relative of his.

In conclusion, the panel concluded: “Mr McGiveron had breached his overriding responsibility to safeguard the welfare of children, in acting in the manner found proven.

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“The panel was satisfied that the conduct of Mr McGiveron fell significantly short of the standard of behaviour expected of a teacher.”

McGiveron was not present or represented during the virtual panel.