A sixth form college has refuted claims by a supply teacher that he was sacked for wearing a Palestine pin.
Havering Sixth Form College in Hornchurch confirmed yesterday (February 8) that Steve Hedley, 55, a supply teacher and former trade union boss, had been asked to leave the school.
Mr Hedley claimed on Monday (February 5) that he was "sacked" on January 31 for wearing a badge in the shape of Ireland with Palestinian colours.
But a spokesperson for New City College, a group the sixth form belongs to, said Mr Hedley was instead let go due to concerns around behaviour and conduct.
The decision came after Mr Hedley, who taught at the college through an agency, was invited for an "informal conversation" about wearing political badges, the statement added.
"The individual [Mr Hedley] showed behaviours towards other members of staff that we believe do not align to our college’s ethos and values," the spokesperson said.
"The individual was not sacked for the wearing of political badges."
But Mr Hedley, a former RMT senior assistant general secretary who was suspended from the trade union in April 2020 for making disparaging remarks about Boris Johnson's ill health during the Covid pandemic, vehemently disagreed.
RELATED NEWS: Havering Sixth Form in Hornchurch to build new £5.65m block
"This is just nonsense, absolute and total nonsense," Mr Hedley said.
“There’s no doubt about the fact it was about [wearing] the Palestinian badge - it's not a political badge, it's a flag asking for a ceasefire,” he added.
The college had also raised concerns Mr Hedley was not teaching to the curriculum.
"It subsequently appears that the scheme of work set for the individual to teach was not being followed and the class were given topics that did not relate to the syllabus," a New City spokesperson said.
"Anyone who works in schools or colleges is required to follow Department for Education guidance that states that teachers should offer a balanced overview of opposing views when political issues are taught," it was added.
When asked today (February 9), Mr Hedley, who said he was teaching there for three and a half weeks, claimed otherwise.
He said: “I was absolutely teaching to the curriculum - the only time I mentioned Palestine was in the context of the International Court of Justice which is part of the [politics] curriculum.”
The New City spokesperson reiterated Mr Hedley was never a college employee, and the person he was covering has since returned to work.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here