Teachers at the centre of a social networking group that allegedly circulated homophobic and anti-Western messages have been barred from the classroom in the wake of the “Trojan Horse” affair.
Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary, confirmed that two teachers had been subjected to interim banning orders pending a full hearing of the profession’s regulatory body.
In evidence to MPs, she confirmed that a number of other teachers were also being investigating.
It represents the first official confirmation that teaching bans have been imposed in connection with the Trojan Horse scandal – in which hard-line Muslims seemingly plotted to impose Islamist practices in Birmingham classrooms.
Addressing the Education Select Committee, Mrs Morgan failed to name the two teachers subjected to temporary orders.
But Whitehall sources confirmed that they were Monzoor Hussain, the former acting principal of Park View School, and Razwan Faraz, deputy head at Nansen Primary.
Both were named in a report by Peter Clarke, the Metropolitan Police’s former counter-terrorism chief, into the controversy surrounding Birmingham schools. They were also suspended from their jobs in July.
His report revealed details of the “Park View Brotherhood” – a Whatsapp discussion group set up by Mr Hussain. Mr Faraz was one of the most “prolific contributors”, it emerged.
According to his report, the group shared messages and links to news articles that were “overwhelmingly anti-Western, anti-American and anti-Israeli”.
The group circulated links suggesting that the Boston Marathon bombing was a hoax and the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby was staged as part of an “attack on Islam”.
Messages also included criticism of homosexuality, with the claim that “as teachers we must be aware and counter their satanic ways of influencing young people”.
Addressing MPs, Mrs Morgan said: “There are two interim prohibition orders that have been made against two of the teachers involved in the Birmingham situation and there are further disciplinary proceedings continuing.
“Those teachers are now not allowed to be teaching in schools.”
She said the interim orders were made pending further “disciplinary proceedings”.
The National College for Teaching and Leadership – which regulates the profession – is understood to be looking at evidence provided by Mr Clarke before holding a full hearing onto the two men.
Mrs Morgan added: “There are other teachers out there whose conduct is being investigated.”
The Clarke report was one of a series of investigations into Birmingham schools.
Ofsted also placed five schools – Park View, Golden Hillock, Nansen primary, Oldknow Academy and Saltley School – in special measures.
On Tuesday, the education watchdog published a report claiming that “too much poor practice” had remained “unchallenged” since its original inspection judgments were released.
It gave an example of one school that required pupils to teach themselves about any faith other than Islam in religious education lessons. At another school, a supply teacher taught an RE lesson that “appeared to promote an inappropriate Islamist agenda”.