Police in riot kit outside teacher complaint panel

Nov 18 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

POLICE in riot gear were deployed outside a disciplinary hearing where a North teacher was accused of accessing right-wing chat rooms during lessons.

Adam Walker, 39, a member of the British National Party, is accused of expressing religious intolerance while on duty at Houghton Kepier Sport College, Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland.

The allegation against him is that between February and March 2007 he used a school laptop during lessons and contributed to online discussions in which he demonstrated views suggestive of racial and religious intolerance.

Riot police were on duty outside the General Teaching Council (GTC) offices in Birmingham, where dozens of the party’s supporters and anti-fascist activists had gathered.

The hearing was adjourned to a date to be arranged after former president of the National Union of Teachers Judy Moorhouse stood down from the disciplinary panel.

Ms Moorhouse, a member of the NUT executive committee, had been due to sit on a three-member GTC committee considering a charge of misconduct brought against Mr Walker, a technology teacher.

But Mr Walker, a former soldier and karate expert, submitted that the presence of Ms Moorhouse on the committee meant there was a real possibility the tribunal might be biased.

In a five-page judgment, the GTC committee accepted that it would be “inappropriate” for Ms Moorhouse, who is also the chair of the GTC, to continue to sit in Mr Walker’s case. In its ruling, the panel said: “The committee notes that this case is not about membership of the BNP. The outstanding, unadmitted issue relates to whether contributions made by Mr Walker to online discussions demonstrated views suggestive of racial and religious intolerance.

“At the outset, the committee reminded itself of the importance of justice not only being done, but being seen to be done.

“Accordingly, as a committee, we have determined that it is not appropriate for Ms Moorhouse to continue to sit as a member of this committee.” A new hearing committee will be constituted. Mr Walker, of Spennymoor, County Durham, could become the first teacher in the country to be removed from the teaching register for religious intolerance.

During a lesson at the school he is alleged to have posted critical comments against asylum seekers, immigrants, Muslims and the “promotion” of homosexuality. He left his job last year.

His brother Mark, also a technology teacher, last month had his contract terminated by Sunnydale Community College, Shildon, County Durham, on the grounds of ill health. He had been suspended after he was accused of accessing the BNP website in school hours. Both men stood unsuccessfully for the party in local elections.