Teacher banned from classroom after calling for navy to stop migrants | UK | News
– (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
The “exemplary” teacher, who demanded the “deployment of the navy” in a social media post about immigrants arriving illegally on small boats, was banned from teaching for life. Samuel Everett, a physical education teacher at Haughton Academy, was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct at a misconduct panel last month.
The 29-year-old made numerous posts on X that were deemed offensive by education chiefs, including saying people who did not respect Britain’s culture or lifestyles should “leave the country”. It has now been confirmed that Mr Everett, who was relieved of his duties in June 2024, has now been banned from the profession for life. The panel heard Mr Everett’s X account referred to his name, occupation and place of residence, although it was different from the location of the school.
Haughton Academy (Image:-)
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The posts first surfaced when another teacher at the school, run by the Education Village Academy Foundation, received an anonymous email expressing her concerns.
An investigation was launched even though Mr Everett, who started working there in September 2022, was not suspended during this period and was dismissed in June 2024.
Mr Everett admitted that he was responsible for the posts, screenshots of which were presented to the panel, and did so from the beginning of the investigation.
They added a comment saying “deploy the navy” to the far-right group Britain First’s post about migrant crossings. He denied knowing the nature of the organization.
In another post by Mr. Everett, the following statements were included: “If you do not respect our laws, culture and way of life, you should leave, no one is forcing you to stay.
“We don’t go into other people’s countries and tell them they’re wrong about this.”
Another post read: “…get rid of most of them, if they hate this country that much they should go away.”
The message was in response to the following post: “…we have imported many more who hate the country. The only way we will survive is through patriotism and understanding our history.”
The panel found that six allegations against Mr Everett were substantiated and that his comments were offensive, but did not find any of the posts made between December 2023 and February 2024 to be racist or sexist.
Some allegations of offensive posts have not been substantiated, but the panel noted they were “silly and brazen” or in “bad taste”.
Migrants on smuggler boat (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The panel also heard the posts were “inconsistent with the ethos and policy of the school” despite being made outside the educational environment.
Richard Matkin, representing Mr Everett, told the hearing his client had a previous record of “good service and excellent performance”.
A former headteacher also described Mr Everett as “exemplary” and a “consummate practitioner”.
Mr Matkin said he had closed Mr Everett’s account and deleted the posts and that there was “very low or no risk of recurrence”.
The panel heard he was “regretful” of past comments, “disappointed in himself” and accepted the posts were “unwise”.
Migrants sit on a boat as they prepare to sail for England (Image: Getty Images)
But Mr Everett’s behavior was found to have fallen “significantly short of the standards expected from the profession” and its findings were described as “serious”.
The board said his conduct “could have a negative impact on Mr Everett’s status as a teacher” and bring the profession into disrepute.
Although his ban is permanent, he will be able to apply to have the decision lifted as of March 5, 2028, if he wishes to continue his career.
