BNP teacher faces being struck off the register

Feb 6 2009 by Nicola Juncar, The Journal

A TEACHER from the North East could be banned from the profession for allegedly posting racist and homophobic comments on a website during a lesson.

If found guilty, British National Party member Adam Walker, 39, of Spennymoor, County Durham, would become the first teacher in the country to be struck off the register for religious intolerance.

During a lesson at Houghton Kepier Sports College, Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, it is claimed he posted critical comments against asylum seekers, immigrants, Muslims and gay people.

Next week, he faces another appearance before England’s General Teaching Council (GTC) in Birmingham, after previous hearings were adjourned last year.

The former soldier and karate expert left his job as a technology teacher at Houghton Kepier in 2007 after admitting using a school computer to access a discussion forum about the BNP.

The allegation against Mr Walker, which the GTC Committee will hear, is that he was “guilty of unacceptable professional conduct” because he “made personal use of a school laptop during lessons and whilst using the laptop accessed the internet and contributed to online discussions in which he demonstrated views suggestive of racial and religious intolerance”.

The alleged incident is said to have happened between February and March 2007. Witnesses due to give evidence on behalf of the GTC are school bursar Gordon Bell and Tim Bateson, the IT strategy manager.

Mr Walker, who is the president of Solidarity, a trade union closely associated with the BNP, is being represented by Patrick Harrington, Solidarity’s general secretary.

The case has previously been adjourned because Solidarity objected to the presence of Judy Moorhouse, chairman of the GTC panel and vice-president of the National Union of Teachers. Mr Walker claimed Ms Moorhouse’s presence meant there was a possibility the tribunal might be biased.

At a hearing, in November, riot police had to be called to the GTC’s offices, after BNP supporters and anti-fascist activists gathered.

Adam’s brother, Mark, lost an appeal against his sacking from Sunnydale College, Shildon, County Durham. Mark Walker, also a technology teacher, is accused of accessing the BNP’s website during school hours. Sunnydale Board of Governors upheld a decision to terminate his contract on the grounds of ill health.