The head of one of Victoria’s most expensive private colleges has resigned after being caught watching pornography on his office computer.

A photograph of Geelong College principal Andrew Barr viewing the porn was reportedly distributed widely around the school via social media before reaching the school administrators prior to Easter.

“Our college community is hurting,” college council chairman Dr Hugh Seward told News Corp.

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“We have concern for the welfare of the young Barr family. But we must deal with our difficult situation,” Dr Seward said.

The conduct of the principal, who joined the college in 2013, was not criminal and did not impact on student welfare, but was a breach of school standards, he said.

Parents were informed of the resignation by a school-wide letter on Thursday.

Viewing the pornography at work “breached the standards upon which The Geelong College was built,” the letter said.

Mr Barr is a former chairman of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, and has been employed by Scotch Oakburn College, Scott College and Caulfield Grammar.

The college has begun the process of finding a replacement.