Teacher who sent videos of child abuse struck off from profession

Michael Bright, 33, was convicted at Gloucester Crown Court in November 2021 of three counts of distributing indecent images of youngsters and was sentenced to 16 months in jail, suspended for two years.

Bright, who previously taught at Little Mead Primary Academy in Southmead, was living in Weston-super-Mare at the time of sentence, having moved from Dursley.

He has now officially been banned from teaching, with no review period or right to reapply, by a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) conduct panel.

The decision report said Bright joined a group on a social network site that had an interest in adult pornography and that some “indecent, unlawful images and videos became available” to him through that platform.

READ MORE: Picture released of disgraced teacher from Dursley

Michael Bright, formerly of Dursley, has been banned from teaching following a conduct panel

Someone in the group asked him for “material of an illegal nature” and he sent them four videos, the report said.

It said Bright’s explanation during the school’s disciplinary investigation was that he “didn’t feel like myself as I did it” and that he had “great remorse”.

But he insisted that it was “an entirely internet-based offence”.

The TRA report, following its decision on October 5, said: “The panel was concerned that Mr Bright appeared not to appreciate the impact on the children depicted in the images.

“The panel took into account that Mr Bright admitted his conduct to the police and pleaded guilty to the offence.

“The panel noted that the judge’s sentencing remarks referred to Mr Bright having contacted Stop It Now and that there were references before the court that viewed the behaviour as wholly out of character.

“His representative also stated that Mr Bright had been working with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation since his initial arrest. 

Michael Bright previously taught at Little Mead Primary Academy in Southmead (Image: Newsquest / Google Maps)

“The panel noted that the judge had concluded that, in light of the short period of offending, there was a real prospect of rehabilitation with the appropriate safeguards. 

“Whilst Mr Bright has expressed regret, the panel was concerned that Mr Bright described his conduct during the school’s disciplinary hearing as an ‘entirely internet-based offence’.

“The panel has seen no evidence of Mr Bright understanding the impact on children who are the victims of sexual exploitation.”

Upholding the panel’s recommendation on behalf of the Education Secretary, TRA chief executive Marc Cavey wrote: “In my judgement, the lack of full insight and remorse demonstrated, and particularly the lack of evidence that Mr Bright understands the potential real-world impact of his behaviour, means that there is some risk of repetition and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils.”

At the 2021 court hearing, Bright, a leader at the school with six years’ teaching experience, was also ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work, 30 days’ rehabilitation, pay a £156 victim surcharge and £425 costs and was given a five-year sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

Speaking on behalf of the school, Trust in Learning Academies chief executive Sue Elliott said: “Mr Bright was dismissed from his post at Little Mead Primary Academy in 2021 following a police investigation.

“There was no evidence of children or families connected with the school being involved in his activities and Endeavour Academy Trust, who the school were part of at the time, acted swiftly to safeguard its children and families.

“Endeavour Academy Trust referred the case to the Teaching Regulation Agency immediately, and this result ensures that all children will be safeguarding from him working with them in the future.

“In 2023 the Endeavour Academy Trust chose to merge with Trust in Learning Academies and Little Mead Primary Academy is now part of our family of schools.”