Teacher banned after possessing child abuse image

A teacher has been banned from the profession for life after he admitted possessing an indecent image of a child.

William Goswell, 59, taught at Furze Platt Senior School in Maidenhead, Berkshire, when he was arrested for possessing an image in the most serious category in August 2023.

Goswell, of Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, was given a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Reading Magistrates' Court in May 2025.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) said the art and technology teacher would never be allowed to have his registration restored because of the seriousness of his offending.

Goswell told the TRA his offending was in part because of "health matters at the time", but it said it had not been given any independent medical evidence proving that.

He was also told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, complete a rehabilitation activity requirement, and was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order when he was sentenced last year in June.

In a statement, a school spokesperson said its community was "extremely distressed and disgusted" to learn about Goswell's conviction.

They said he had not worked at the school since the allegations were made in August 2023, and that Ofsted validated its safeguarding processes during an inspection in March.

They added that police had confirmed that Goswell's crime did not involve any school pupil.

"We will continue to ensure that we safeguard students working with them and their families to help them to become fantastic, successful young adults," they added.