Batley Grammar School suspended two more teachers amid row over cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad

By Benjamin Russell April 1, 2021 1:58 pm

Head teacher Gary Kibble announced that the unnamed teacher in his 20s had been suspended while the school investigated complaints by parents

The school at the centre of a row over pupils being shown a cartoon of the prophet Muhammed has suspended two other teachers, it has been reported.

One teacher suspended by Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire has had to go into hiding with his partner and four children after receiving death threats over a Charlie Hebdo cartoon of the prophet being used during a religious studies lesson.

Head teacher Gary Kibble announced that the unnamed teacher in his 20s had been suspended while the school investigated complaints by parents, but it has now emerged that two other teachers were also sent home but this was not revealed to the public over fears of wider criticism.

Speaking to MailOnline, a source told how looking at blasphemy had been part of the curriculum, but Mr Kibble had not authorised showing of the cartoon.

The source said: “Two other teachers are also being investigated but the school has been trying to keep it secret because they don’t want attention being drawn to the fact that this went beyond the actions of one person.

“They were not in the class at time but were aware that offensive material was going to be used.”

The also confirmed that the image that a pupil complained about to his parents was from the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and depicted the Prophet Muhammad wearing a bomb instead of a turban on his head.

They added: “Blasphemy features on the school curriculum and images have been used before by teachers. But not this one. This was the first time that this particular image was shown during a lesson.

“This picture was not part of the approved teaching materials and we do not know why the teacher chose it. This is why the head of the RE department is being investigated and another RE teacher because it appears, there were no proper checks in place.

“There is nothing to suggest that either of them used this particular image themselves in lessons, but they knew what was going on and it points to a breakdown in the system.”

It comes as a petition to reinstate the first teacher known to be suspended has reached almost 70,000 signatures.

The Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick, said suggestions the teacher was in hiding were “very disturbing”.

Mr Jenrick said: “It must be right that a teacher can appropriately show images of the Prophet Mohammed.

“In a free society, we want religions to be taught to children and for children to be able to question and query them.”

He added: “I was disturbed to see scenes of people protesting out.side the school – that is not right

“We shouldn’t have teachers, members of staff of schools, feeling intimidated, and the reports that a teacher may even be in hiding is very disturbing.

“That is not a road we want to go down in this country, so I would strongly urge people who are concerned about this issue not to do that.”

The i has contacted the school for comment.

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