Dudley teacher banned from teaching for life after sending 'explicit' images to pupils on Snapchat

A primary school teacher from Dudley has been banned for life from teaching after being found to have sent explicit images to pupils on platforms including Snapchat.

Ashley Nixon was found to have sent sexually explicit photos to two former pupils from Peters Hill Primary School in Brierley Hill, as well as asking for an illicit image from a child.

The 31-year-old was employed at the school between 2016 and 2022, but had been suspended from the school in October 2021 after claims that he had been regularly communicating with former pupils from the school on social media.

A Teaching Regulation Agency misconduct panel on October 29 heard Nixon regularly communicated with the pair, sending both explicit photos, and had been interviewed by West Midlands Police following the allegations.

The panel also heard how the two children had become friends with Nixon on the social media site Snapchat, with one child having a "101-day streak" with Nixon, meaning an image or message was sent between them every day over that time.

It also saw call log photos between another child and Nixon, with 17 video or audio calls logged over four days, while the panel also considered allegations that illicit photographs and videos had been sent to both children, including a picture of a man lying on his front and showing his bare buttocks.

Other photos had shown a pair of boxers being opened, while one of the children told police that three or four photos had been sent to them on separate occasions.

Nixon did admit to sending a photo of his buttocks and a video of his genitals to one child, but claimed it had been intended for an adult female friend, while he denied sending explicit images to the other child.

However, the panel said it did not accept the premise that Nixon had sent the messages inadvertently and also noted that the photograph and video would have to be sent separately, making it implausible that Nixon could send two inappropriate images to the wrong person.

Nixon was also found guilty of sending explicit pictures to one child and also guilty of inviting both former pupils to see his new home and ruled that his conducted "fell 'significantly short of the standards expected of the profession'".

The panel, on behalf of the Secretary of State, decided he should never be allowed to teach again.

A statement on behalf of the Secretary of State said: "The panel found that Mr Nixon’s conduct amounted to sexual misconduct involving a child and that this had the potential to result in significant harm to Child 1 and Child 2.

"In this case, factors mean that allowing a review period is not sufficient to achieve the aim of maintaining public confidence in the profession. 

"These elements are the seriousness of the findings and the lack of full insight or remorse. 

"I consider therefore that allowing for no review period is necessary to maintain public confidence and is proportionate and in the public interest. 

"This means that Mr Ashley Nixon is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or 26 children’s home in England.

"Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Nixon shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach."