BNP teacher accused of racial and religious intolerance

Adam Walker is reported to be the first teacher to appear before the General Teaching Council (GTC) accused of racial and religious intolerance.

He resigned from his role as a technology teacher, after the head teacher instructed IT staff to investigate Mr Walker`s use of the internet on his school laptop. He was allegedly found to have posted a number of comments on an online forum, which Bradley Albuery, the GTC presenting officer, believes "demonstrate views suggestive of both racial and religious intolerance, constituting unacceptable professional conduct." Mr Albuery was keen to stress that this was not a case "about the BNP or whether teachers should be members of that party". In his defence, Mr Walker and his trade union representative argued that he had not communicated his political thoughts and beliefs to staff or pupils, and that assumptions had been made about his views simply because of his membership of the BNP. The GTC`s judgment is expected imminently. (As reported in The Times)