Teacher sacked for wearing trainers attacks 'corporate' policy at schools

A PE teacher who was sacked for wearing trainers in class has criticised the Government for promoting the "corporatisation" of the capital's schools.

Adrian Swain, who has been teaching maths and PE in the East End for the past 35 years, refused to follow a new dress code at St Paul's Way Community School in Tower Hamlets.

The 57-year-old, of Canning Town, said: "Children would much rather have a good teacher who wore trainers than a bad one who was dressed like a businessman. Pupils learn best in an atmosphere where they feel comfortable and not in a corporate, office-like setting, so I really don't like the way that education is going." A stand-in head who took over this year issued a new dress code following complaints that staff were scruffy.

Mr Swain, the school's National Union of Teachers representative, said: "None of this was in consultation with the unions or members of staff."

He refused to abide by the new rules and was given a verbal warning. The school then took disciplinary action and last week a hearing of the Tower Hamlets education authority board found Mr Swain guilty of "refusing reasonable requests to dress sensibly". He was sacked.

Mr Swain, who had taken up a new role teaching science and maths to children with special needs, hopes he will be reinstated following an appeal.