A former teacher at Eton College has been barred from working in the profession after he searched for indecent images of children on his work laptop, a misconduct panel has ruled. David Goode, 53, who taught at the Windsor school from 2005 to 2022, admitted to carrying out the sexually-motivated internet searches.

The evidence was referred to a panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), which found his conduct serious enough to bring the profession into disrepute.

Mr Goode was employed as an organist and music teacher when he was warned in 2017 about using the school’s IT network to attempt to access pornography.

The school’s IT monitoring system alerted the safeguarding team that he had conducted several suspicious searches on his work laptop in 2021. He was suspended immediately, police were informed, and Mr Goode was arrested on suspicion of possession and distribution of indecent images of children.

In 2022, police confirmed they would be taking "no further action" as there was no evidence to prove Mr Goode was in possession of indecent images of children.

The panel found his actions constituted "unacceptable professional conduct".

Mr Goode has been included in the Children’s Barred List and he is prohibited from teaching indefinitely.

The Searches

The panel heard that the searches included terms such as “gay little boys”, “cute thai boys”, and “Algerian gay boys”.

Goode’s Remorse

In 2022, Mr Goode wrote a letter to a colleague which referred to “illegal images” for which he said he was “massively regretful”. The panel found that while Goode expressed remorse, the seriousness of his actions warranted a lifetime ban without the possibility of review.

Eton’s Statement

[A spokesperson for Eton College said: "We fully support the decision to bar Mr David Goode from teaching...

"While there is no evidence to suggest that any Eton pupil was at risk during Mr Goode’s employment or as a result of these searches, the safety and wellbeing of all young people remains our top priority.

"Eton College remains committed to maintaining rigorous safeguarding practices and fostering a culture where pupils, parents, and staff can confidently raise any concerns.’](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13817211/eton-music-teacher-lifetime-classroom-ban-searching-gay-little-boys-school-computer.html)

The Impact on the Teaching Profession

The panel highlighted that Mr Goode’s actions breached multiple professional standards, including the duty to uphold public trust and maintain high standards of ethics and behavior both within and outside school. The panel emphasised that teachers have an influential role in students’ lives and that misconduct of this nature seriously damages the profession’s reputation.

A Career Outside of Teaching

The panel also heard that “his name has been included in the Children’s Barred List and he is therefore already pursuing a career outside of teaching”.

The Verdict

Ultimately, the panel found that Mr Goode’s actions were serious enough to warrant a lifetime ban from teaching. The decision maker for the secretary of state for education, David Oatley, agreed and made the prohibition order on Aug 13 2024.

A Call for Continued Vigilance

This case highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting children. Schools and other institutions must continue to implement rigorous safeguarding practices and foster a culture where individuals feel comfortable reporting any concerns.

Eton College’s statement reiterates their commitment to safeguarding: "Eton College remains committed to maintaining rigorous safeguarding practices and fostering a culture where pupils, parents, and staff can confidently raise any concerns."