Supply teacher banned over racial comments

John Cable was found to have made an inappropriate gesture referring to Chinese people while teaching at Beauchamp College

A supply teacher has been banned from the profession after he was found guilty of misconduct over making racial remarks to students.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) said it took place while John Cable was teaching at two Leicester schools, and was employed by Aspire People Ltd, in November 2021.

The TRA has published a report that said he had been prohibited from teaching indefinitely and could not apply for the order to be lifted for two years.

Mr Cable, 77, who has been in the teaching profession for 32 years, denied the allegations.

Daniel Dawkins, Aspire People managing director, said the firm made a referral to the TRA after receiving feedback from a school.

The TRA said while teaching at Beauchamp College, in Oadby, on 9 November 2021 Mr Cable was found to have made an inappropriate gesture using his eyes when referring to Chinese people.

He was also found to be guilty of unacceptable professional conduct while working as a supply teacher at St Paul's Catholic School, in Evington, on 30 November 2021.

'Unacceptable professional conduct'

The report said he acted inappropriately towards one pupil while teaching by making multiple remarks and questions based on his racial identity.

The TRA said Mr Cable showed frustration when the pupil did not understand his Chinese, and displayed body language towards him, suggesting he was a foreigner or did not understand.

The pupil told the panel he found Mr Cable's behaviour "offensive" and that he felt that Mr Cable was "speaking in a manner which directly targeted his racial and national identity".

The behaviour above was "inappropriate, offensive, and/or motivated by prejudice based on race", the report added.

The panel felt there was no evidence in relation to Mr Cable that appeared to demonstrate hostility with regard to Chinese people as a racial group.

However, it was of the view that the inherent nature of the act was discriminatory.

It said: "Mr Cable's conduct amounted to both unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute."

The panel said Mr Cable appeared to have an otherwise unblemished record, had engaged with the TRA and was present at the hearing, and his teaching experience had not been questioned.

However, the aggravating factors included that his actions were deliberate, and he had shown little evidence of insight or remorse.

'High safeguarding standards'

Mr Dawkins, of Aspire People, added: "We take feedback and reports from our schools and supply staff very seriously.

"We received feedback from the school which triggered our safeguarding process and a referral to the local authority designated officer (LADO).

"The LADO outcome was a request for Aspire to handle this as a conduct issue internally, which resulted in us making a referral to the TRA."

He added he would like to thank the schools and the TRA for acting on the information provided, and "the close work together to uphold high safeguarding standards".

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