BNP members not barred from teaching

BNP members will not be banned from teaching following an independent review.

The Government-commissioned report said that barring school staff from being members of groups which promote racism and intolerance would be disproportionate.

Author Maurice smith, a former chief inspector of schools added that sufficient measurers were already in place to deal with the risks, although some could be improved

Ministers have agreed to review his recommendation every year.

Mr Smith, director of education for the Church of England Manchester Diocese, said: “To bar teachers or other members of the school workforce from joining non–proscribed organisations would be a profound political act.

“In my analysis it would be a disproportionate response, taking a very large sledgehammer to crack a minuscule nut.”

The review was ordered after a leaked report identified 15 teachers as BNP members.

But Mr Smith found that only four teachers and two governors had been brought to the attention of the Government as BNP members during the last seven years.

Nine teachers had been subject to disciplinary sanction for making racist remarks or having racist material by the General Teaching Council.

The review was branded a woefully inadequate and a golden opportunity squandered by the teaching union NASUWT.

General secretary Chris Keates said: “Maurice Smith seems to have focused, to a point of obsession, on the number of incidents. One incident is one too many.

“The idea that a person who signs up to membership of the BNP can simply leave these beliefs at the school gate and behave as a ‘professional’ when they walk into school is risible.”