A teacher at a leading private school on Sydney’s Upper North Shore has been charged after allegedly filming female students without their knowledge.
Richard Harman, 61, a teacher at St Leo’s Catholic College, was arrested on Thursday after police allegedly discovered child abuse material and recordings on several electronic devices.
Catholic Schools Broken Bay (CSBB), which oversees Catholic schools across Sydney’s North Shore, confirmed Harman’s employment was terminated on Thursday.
“The staff member was not at school when arrested. Consistent with our protocols, the staff member is no longer employed at CSBB,” the organisation said in a statement.
“This is deeply distressing news, and our main priority remains the safety and wellbeing of our students.
“Staff, parents and students have been briefed and offered support.”
Harman joined the co-educational school as a Technological and Applied Studies teacher in January 2024—the same year in which the alleged offences are said to have taken place.
Police first visited a home in Hornsby on Tuesday and spoke with Harman after receiving reports that devices at the property may contain child abuse material. He was arrested two days later.
St Leo’s Catholic College teacher Richard Harman has been charged after he allegedly recorded secret videos of female students
Following the initial police visit, Harman was taken to hospital for assessment.
He was arrested after being discharged and taken to Hornsby Police Station, where he was charged with five counts of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent, as well as one count each of producing and possessing child abuse material.
Bail was refused, and Harman is due to face Hornsby Local Court on November 18.
He was last mentioned in the school’s Term Three newsletter, in which he recommended a book to staff and students.
Before joining St Leo’s Catholic College, Harman is understood to have taught at Barker College, an independent Anglican school in Hornsby, and at Trinity Grammar School.
St Leo’s Catholic College describes itself as being situated in “the leafy suburb of Wahroonga” and charges annual tuition fees of up to $8,700.
The school attracted attention in March when it emerged that parents were being notified whenever their child used the bathroom, in an effort to prevent students from damaging the newly built facilities.
Assistant principal Patrick Brennan told parents at the time that the information was not being used to “police” students.
Harman’s alleged offending is understood to have occurred before that monitoring trial.
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The Daily Mail has contacted St Leo’s Catholic College for comment.
Police allege their examination of several electronic devices seized from the home uncovered recordings of students filmed on the grounds of St Leo’s Catholic College.
A USB device allegedly contained covert footage of females in public places, while other videos purportedly showed similar behaviour in a school setting.
After speaking with Harman at the property, officers took him to hospital for assessment.
He was arrested after leaving hospital and transported to Hornsby Police Station, where he faced five charges of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent, along with charges of producing and possessing child abuse material.
Harman was denied bail and is scheduled to appear at Hornsby Local Court on November 18.
The teacher was last named in the school’s Term Three newsletter, where he offered staff and students a book recommendation.
Before his appointment at St Leo’s Catholic College, Harman is understood to have worked at Barker College in Hornsby and Trinity Grammar School.
Located in what St Leo’s Catholic College calls “the leafy suburb of Wahroonga”, the school charges up to $8,700 per year in tuition fees.
In March, the school was the subject of reports that parents were alerted each time their children went to the bathroom, a measure introduced to deter students from vandalising the brand-new facilities.
Assistant principal Patrick Brennan said the data was not being used to “police” the children.
Harman’s alleged conduct is understood to have predated the bathroom-monitoring trial.
The Daily Mail has contacted St Leo’s Catholic College for comment.
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– READ MORE: Why parents at a Sydney private school are being notified every time their child goes to the BATHROOM
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