A South West London teacher who tried to take photos inside some female changing rooms has been banned from the classroom indefinitely.
Christopher Arnold, 40, was convicted of a voyeurism offence and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years in 2022 after holding up his phone camera to the window of some changing rooms, but maintains he did not actually manage to photograph anyone.
The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) has now ruled Mr Arnold’s behaviour “fundamentally breached the standard of conduct expected of a teacher”. The panel found that public confidence in the profession “could be seriously weakened if conduct such as that found against Mr Arnold was not treated with the utmost seriousness”.
A hearing held by the TRA on August 1, 2025 was told that Mr Arnold had been working since 2012 as a physics and computer science teacher at Hampton School, a private school for boys in Hampton.
It was reported to the school on March 23, 2022, that he had held his mobile phone to the window of some female changing rooms and tried to take photographs inside. He was formally dismissed on May 6 that year, after a disciplinary hearing.
Mr Arnold was arrested, pleaded guilty and convicted on May 9, 2022 of “observing a person doing a private act, knowing that the person did not consent to being observed for your sexual gratification”. He was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work, 30 rehabilitation days and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
In a new report, the TRA found that while Mr Arnold “had great ability as an educator, the panel considered that the adverse public interest considerations above outweigh any interest in retaining Mr Arnold in the profession, since his behaviour fundamentally breached the standard of conduct expected of a teacher”.
The panel said that while Mr Arnold maintained he did not actually take a photo or see anything in the female changing rooms, his attempt to do so showed his intent at the time and was relevant to the seriousness of the offence. The report noted he had immediately owned up to his actions, shown insight into them and expressed immediate and continued remorse, including by attending the hearing.
Mr Arnold wrote in a statement that his actions were “out of character and contrary to my attitudes and values”, and that he was “keen to take responsibility for my actions”. He told the hearing: “My life has changed beyond recognition… and I am wholeheartedly committed to taking whatever measures necessary to make my future more positive, happy and fulfilling.”
The panel recommended that Mr Arnold be given a prohibition order with a review period of two years, given his “continued remorse and low risk of repetition in future”.
Sarah Buxcey, on behalf of the Education Secretary, ruled a prohibition order was “proportionate and in the public interest”. She banned Mr Arnold from teaching indefinitely with a review period of two years.
A Hampton School spokesperson said: “Christopher Arnold was dismissed in 2022 after allegations regarding his conduct were raised with the school. All appropriate reports were made to the relevant authorities, and he was subsequently sentenced to a non-custodial community service order. The charges did not relate to the safeguarding of children.”
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