Teacher banned over Ukrainians 'Nazi' slur

A teacher who made derogatory comments about Ukrainians as well as gay and transgender people during a history lesson has been banned from the profession.

William Garwood was working as a supply teacher at St Mary's Menston Catholic Voluntary Academy when he described Ukrainians as "Nazis" and "evil", a professional misconduct panel was told.

The 60-year-old also told the Year 11 pupils that gay and transgender people were "mentally ill", the panel heard.

A Teaching Regulation Agency misconduct panel ruled he was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and banned him from teaching indefinitely.

The panel found that Garwood made the remarks during a history lesson on 5 October 2023, when he was asked "are there any just wars?" by one of his pupils.

The panel also found proven an allegation that he told pupils billionaires were responsible for transgender people, and that he made comments justifying Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The panel's report said in written representations Garwood "stated that 'I did not give an opinion on gays, but asserted that I am a Muslim and that the position is known'."

It added that Garwood "also stated that he considered he was entitled to his religious belief in Islam and to the philosophical belief of anti-Nazism, which he asserted were protected under Section 10 of the Equality Act 2010".

The panel found Garwood's conduct was inappropriate, discriminatory and failed to show respect or tolerance for people with different beliefs.

It added that they had "considered the age of the students to be a pertinent factor, noting that they were likely to be at an age where they could be particularly susceptible to influence from a teacher's comments".

It concluded: "The panel considered that as a teacher Mr Garwood should have been acting as a role model to pupils at all times.

"In making comments of an inappropriate and/or discriminatory nature, and which failed to demonstrate respect and tolerance towards individuals holding different beliefs, he fell significantly short of the standards expected of him."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.