Apology for sports teacher over trainers

A sports teacher who was sacked for wearing trainers at school has won an apology from Tower Hamlets council.

Union rep Adrian Swain, 58, who taught PE and maths, was fired after refusing to adhere to a new dress code at St Paul's Way Community School in Bow.

The school told him the only time he could wear trainers was during games.

But 20 months after a professional misconduct case was sent to the General Teaching Council, it ruled that there was "no case to answer".

Tower Hamlets had previously apologised after it reported Mr Swain to the Independent Safeguarding Authority, which assesses if children are at risk.

The letter from a human resources official said: "I do apologise for any inconvenience that this may have caused you ... but want to assure you that this referral was made in good faith."

The GTC told Mr Swain: "Taking into account your role in the school, ie you undertook physical activity with pupils and the fact that PE teachers within the school were able to wear suitable attire for this purpose, the committee did not feel your actions amounted to unacceptable professional conduct."

Mr Swain said: "I feel vindicated by the GTC decision and still feel the new rules were something the school decided to do on a whim."