Pupils ‘distraught’ as teacher is left ‘fearing for his life’
BATLEY Grammar School students are said to have been left ‘wordless and distraught’ following the news a teacher accused of showing pupils a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad is ‘fearing for his life.’
On Monday, the suspended teacher’s father spoke out for the first time since protestors swarmed to the school’s gates calling for his son to be sacked.
He has described the 29-year-old teacher as an ‘emotional wreck’ as he disclosed to Mail Online that his son fears his family could be killed if they return to Batley.
And in the aftermath of the interview, a Twitter account – thought to be run by the same Batley Grammar School (BGS) student who has created a petition calling for the teacher to be reinstated – claimed all pupils fear the school will never be the same again.
The tweet read: “A statement has been released from the RS teacher’s father. Honestly, it’s left all students wordless and distraught.
“Some cry, some rage, some mourn silently for losing such a great teacher.
“It’s a hard pill to swallow. We all know deep down that BGS will never be the same again.”
A petition created by the same ‘student’ calling for the teacher to be allowed to return to work has now passed 66,000 signatures.
The person running the Twitter account, and the petition, has not yet disclosed their identity.
Last week, headteacher of the school, Gary Kibble, ‘apologised unequivocally’ on the school’s behalf for the use of the ‘totally inappropriate’ image during a religious studies lesson.
He confirmed the teacher at the centre of the row had been suspended pending an independent, formal investigation into the matter.
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said: “It’s never acceptable to threaten or intimidate teachers and we encourage dialogue between parents and schools where issues emerge.
“You will be aware that an independent investigation into this matter is being commissioned by the school, and it’s right that that process determines what exactly took place.”