Teacher denies Muslim headscarf remarks

A primary school teacher who claims he was forced out of his job denied today that he believed Christianity was "better than" Islam.

Nicholas Kafouris alleges he was forced out of Bigland Green Primary School in east London after he reported pupils for making racist remarks about Christians and Jews.

At a tribunal hearing in central London today, Mr Kafouris denied making offensive remarks about a Muslim pupil's headscarf.

Betsan Criddle, representing the school and Tower Hamlets local education authority, said a parent had complained that Mr Kafouris told her daughter "she was wearing a headscarf for no reason" during a lesson.

The parent said Mr Kafouris claimed her daughter had misbehaved in class.

When the woman asked her daughter about it, the girl seemed upset and was initially reluctant to talk but later said Mr Kafouris had made the remark about her headscarf.

A statement from the parent said she believed Mr Kafouris promoted "Christianity as better than Islam" and she complained to the school.

Mr Kafouris, of Laystall Street, central London, denied making the remark about the headscarf and added it would make "no sense" for him to have said it.

He claims the school failed to back him when he reprimanded Muslim pupils who made offensive remarks about other races and religions.

In his witness statement Mr Kafouris claimed that Muslim children had made remarks like "we hate the Jews", "we hate the Christians" and had spoken of the September 11 bombers as "heroes and martyrs".

Some had spoken of wanting to be "Islamic bombers when we grow up", he said.

Mr Kafouris today said complaints against him were made after he reported racist incidents to the school authorities.

But Ms Criddle said Mr Kafouris's employment records showed his teaching had been criticised from as early as 2001 when assessments spoke of poor management of his classes.

There had also been a complaint following a swimming pool trip which he had supervised.

Mr Kafouris sought medical help for work-related stress and anxiety in February 2007 and remained off work due to illness until he was dismissed in April last year.

He claims the school's handling of his case contributed to the stress-related illness which led to his dismissal.

Mr Kafouris submitted several letters from former pupils to the hearing which spoke of his respect for other religions, including Islam.

One letter, from former colleague Selima Chaudhury, described him as "professional" and an "excellent teacher".

Mrs Chaudhury said: "I never heard Nicholas make any comments about children's race, colour or religion.

"On the contrary, he respected and valued all the religions.

"As a devout Muslim myself I know very well that Nicholas has never and would never make any adverse remarks to the children or the parents about Islam."

Mr Kafouris admitted today he had been given a warning by police about harassment after taking a statement from one child.

Ms Criddle said the boy's family had made a complaint to police but Mr Kafouris swore on the Bible that the child's mother was present when he asked for the statement and that the boy gave it freely.

Mr Kafouris said he had since made a complaint about the police action against him, a complaint which he said was "ongoing".

The teacher, who said he came from a Greek Orthodox background, is claiming he was the victim of racial and religious discrimination.

His complaint names the school's headteacher Jill Hankey and assistant headteacher Margaret Coleman, who he said condoned and upheld the discrimination by failing to tackle the children who made offensive remarks.

"If they don't challenge it, of course they are liable," he said.

Mr Kafouris was asked if he thought remarks made by a child should be treated the same way as those made by a 53-year-old teacher.

"This nine-year-old should know right from wrong," he said.

Mr Kafouris said Ms Coleman had undermined him in front of a class when he tackled a child who made offensive remarks about Jewish people during a lesson she observed.

Ms Criddle said Ms Coleman was also a Christian and showed her faith by wearing a cross but Mr Kafouris said her behaviour was not that of a Christian.

Ms Criddle quoted from a medical assessment of Mr Kafouris which in November 2008 said he had "paranoid thoughts" about the school.

Mr Kafouris denied he was paranoid and added: "They are obviously out to get me."

An Ofsted inspection of Bigland Green Primary School last year said it had around 465 pupils and "almost all" were from minority ethnic groups and spoke English as an additional language.

The school, which was assessed as "good", was praised for promoting community cohesion although inspectors said pupils did not have sufficient opportunities to work with pupils from different ethnic and faith backgrounds.