Next week there is another hearing at the General Teaching Council into charges against our Union President Adam Walker 

Adam is charged  that he was “guilty of unacceptable professional conduct” because he “made personal use of a school laptop during lessons and whilst using the laptop accessed the internet and contributed to online discussions in which he demonstrated views suggestive of racial and religious intolerance”.

The alleged incident is said to have happened between February and March 2007. Witnesses due to give evidence on behalf of the GTC against Adam at a later hearing are school bursar Gordon Bell and Tim Bateson, the IT strategy manager.

Adam  is being represented by Patrick Harrington, Solidarity’s general secretary.

The case has previously been adjourned because Solidarity objected to the presence of Judy Moorhouse, chairman of the GTC panel and vice-president of the National Union of Teachers. Given her own outspoken and controversial view we argued that Ms Moorhouse’s presence meant there was a possibility the tribunal might be biased. A new panel is now in place which we have greater confidence in.

Unlike last hearing  there will be no demonstration from our side. The panel will be hearing two days of legal argument and there will be no decision on the actual charge. Pat Harrington said:- "I am no lawyer but I will do my best to ensure that Adam is justly treated. This case is about  important human and civic rights."