Liverpool School Leader Appears in Court on Child Image Charges 2026

Key Points

• Matthew Hargreaves, 47, principal of King’s Northway Primary Academy in Wavertree, Liverpool, has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children.
• He was arrested and immediately suspended from his role as principal at the school.
• The charges cover making category A, category B, and category C indecent images of children.
• Merseyside Police confirm the offences do not relate to his employment at the school.
• The Office of the Acting Principal at King’s Northway has stressed repeatedly that the charges do not involve students at the academy.
• The maximum penalty for making an indecent image of a child is 10 years’ imprisonment.
• The legal definition of “making” includes downloading, saving, or opening an email attachment containing such images, not just taking photographs.
• The case is now subject to ongoing court proceedings, and further comment has been withheld pending trial.
• Local media reports, including the Liverpool Echo and Click Liverpool, have identified Hargreaves as the charged individual.
• The incident has raised concerns among parents and the wider community about safeguarding, even though the school has stated there is no link to its pupils.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) July 01, 2026 – The principal of a primary school in Liverpool has been charged with child indecent image offences, prompting an immediate suspension and a strong reassurance from the school that the alleged crimes do not involve any of its students.

According to the Liverpool Echo, Matthew Hargreaves, 47, has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children. Merseyside Police confirmed that the charges cover making category A indecent images of children, making category B indecent images of children, and making category C indecent images of children. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the charge of making an indecent image of children is not limited to physically taking a photograph and extends to downloading or saving an image or opening an email attachment.

How did the school respond to the arrest and charges?

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Matthew Hargreaves was immediately suspended from his role as principal at King’s Northway Primary Academy following his arrest. The school’s acting principal has repeatedly reiterated that,

“as difficult as this news is that these charges do not involve students at King’s Northway Primary Academy”.

This statement was made to reassure parents, staff, and the local community that the academy’s pupils are not connected to the alleged offences.

What do the police say about the nature of the offences?

Merseyside Police confirmed that Hargreaves, of Deepdale Avenue in Rochdale, had been charged with making category A, B, and C indecent images of children. The police also stated that the offences do not relate to his employment at the school and, as the matter is subject to ongoing court proceedings, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment.

What is the legal meaning of “making” indecent images?

As noted by the Liverpool Echo, the term “making” in this context is not limited to taking a photograph; it also includes downloading, saving, or opening an email attachment containing indecent images of children. This broader definition is important because it means that even passive actions such as opening an email attachment can constitute the offence under current law.

What is the maximum penalty if convicted?

The charge of making an indecent image of children carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment. This reflects the seriousness with which the law treats offences involving indecent images of children, regardless of whether the images were taken, downloaded, or viewed via email attachments.

Why is the school stressing that students are not involved?

The acting principal at King’s Northway Primary Academy has made it clear that the alleged offences do not involve students at the school. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, this clarification was intended to prevent unnecessary panic among parents and to ensure that the focus remains on the fact that the matter is unrelated to the school’s daily operations or safeguarding of pupils.

What happens next in the legal process?

The Liverpool Echo reports that the matter is now subject to ongoing court proceedings. As explained by the police and the school, no further comment will be made until the case has been concluded, in line with standard practice to avoid prejudicing the trial and to respect the rights of the individual involved.

How have local media outlets reported the case?

The Liverpool Echo and Click Liverpool have both published reports identifying Matthew Hargreaves as the headteacher charged with child indecent image offences. Both outlets have quoted the same core information from Merseyside Police and the school, including the suspension, the nature of the charges, and the school’s assurance that students are not involved.

What is known about King’s Northway Primary Academy?

King’s Northway Primary Academy is located on Northway in Wavertree, Liverpool, with the postcode L15 7JQ. According to the Liverpool City Council and the school’s own website, the academy lists Mr M Hargreaves as its head teacher and principal, and describes itself as a school that exists for its community, with the ethos “Together we can achieve anything”.

Background of this development

This case involves a primary school principal in Liverpool who has been charged with offences relating to indecent images of children, but the charges are not connected to his role at the school. The development follows a standard pattern in such cases: an individual is arrested, suspended from their professional role, charged by the police, and then the matter proceeds to court. The school’s swift suspension and clear communication that pupils are not involved reflect standard safeguarding and reputation-management practice in the English education sector.

Regulatory and professional frameworks in England require schools to take immediate action when a staff member is arrested in connection with serious allegations, particularly those involving children. The decision to suspend Hargreaves immediately and to issue a public statement aligns with guidance from the Department for Education and safeguarding procedures expected of academy trusts and local authorities.

How could this development affect parents, pupils, and the local community?

For parents and pupils at King’s Northway Primary Academy, the immediate impact is likely to be anxiety and concern, even though the school has stated that the charges do not involve students. Families may question whether additional safeguarding measures are needed, and some may seek reassurance conversations with the school leadership. The acting principal’s repeated emphasis that no students are involved is aimed at reducing panic and preventing stigma for current pupils.

For the wider Liverpool community, the case may raise broader discussions about safeguarding in schools and the importance of clear communication when allegations arise. Parents in other local schools may review how their own institutions handle similar situations, while the media spotlight could lead to increased scrutiny of headteacher recruitment and background checks. In the longer term, if the case results in a conviction, it could influence policy or practice around monitoring and support for school leaders, though the school has made clear that the offences are unrelated to its operating environment.