A parent was arrested in a secondary school reception and detained by police for eight hours after he went to complain about a lesson where a teacher told pupils St George flags could be viewed as a ‘racist symbol’.
Broadoak School, in Partington, Greater Manchester, has launched an investigation into comments allegedly made to pupils on Friday morning following complaints by parents.
Yesterday, it emerged a father was arrested in the school’s reception on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker when he joined others to complain to the school on Monday.
The parent, who the Daily Mail is not naming, described how he was detained for eight hours, interviewed and then released without charge.
After he was released, he said he had gone to the school to remove his 12-year-old daughter because of concerns she would be branded ‘racist’.
The father-of-two said both he and his daughter had also attended protests at the Cresta Court Hotel in nearby Altrincham which houses asylum seekers.
He said: ‘She’s been with me and made good friends there. We stand united for the country. She’s with mixed race children there.
‘We just want what’s best for our country and our people ultimately. People are suffering, without any help for heating.
‘The whole country is struggling. Bills are going up and everyone is struggling and feeling the effects.’
Broadoak School (pictured), in Partington, Greater Manchester, has launched an investigation into comments allegedly made to pupils on Friday morning following complaints by parents
The comments made by the teacher at Broadoak School on Friday were captured on a video and shared among parents.
In the clip, the member of staff can be heard noting the rise in the number of St George flags erected on lampposts in Partington and other parts of the country before telling pupils: ‘We are not saying that the England flag is an inherently racist symbol.
‘However, unfortunately for some people it has been viewed to be that.’
The teacher told the pupils she joined a counter protest in Fallowfield to oppose people there who were ‘trying to make those people inside the hotel feel unwelcome’.
She said some of the main protesters were ‘using Nazi salutes and throwing very racist abuse towards the people inside’.
Protests and counter demonstrations have taken places at hotels housing asylum seekers across the country, including the Bell Hotel in Epping, Best Western Hotel in Fallowfield and the Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham.
The parent said the lesson was ‘disgusting’, adding: ‘I don’t think her political views or beliefs should be aired to the children in the way it’s been.
‘Yes, she’s going to the protest and that’s one thing, but don’t be telling the children that’s what they should be thinking or believing.’
He said he turned up with other parents at the school on Monday and removed his daughter because he feared her ‘being called racist for something she has not done’.
‘It’s nothing to do with race,’ he said. ‘It’s obviously made her worry that the teacher has said she has been to counter protests and that people who demonstrate outside the hotels are racist.’
In the school’s reception, he admitted he ‘raised his voice’ and police were called.
He was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and police assault before being taken to Pendleton police station in Salford.
The father said he was released without charge at about 5.30pm, some eight hours later.
The grandmother of another pupil who witnessed the altercation and said she counted eight police officers, said: ‘I was there for exactly the same reason. It went absolutely mental. He was smashed against the glass door and then onto the floor…. I’m shocked by it.’
She said the man had done nothing except express his frustration and was simply a ‘concerned parent’.
On the same day the school’s headteacher John Knowles and academies director John Shakos sent a letter to parents apologising for the lesson.
In it, they wrote: ‘May I take this opportunity to share with you concerns that were raised by families within our community about a presentation that was delivered to pupils last Friday morning.
‘The concerns are centred on the belief that the presentation, which covered themes of celebrating diversity, inclusivity, the democratic right to protest and political beliefs, was not balanced and impartial.
‘This has understandably caused upset amongst members of the community, and concern for the school.
‘We would like to unequivocally apologise for any upset that this has caused and provide assurance that the situation will be investigated and addressed accordingly.’
The parent said the lesson was ‘disgusting’, adding: ‘I don’t think her political views or beliefs should be aired to the children in the way it’s been’ (Pictured: Broadoak School)
They added they want to ‘personally thank those parents who, with very short notice, came into school… to share their concerns’, adding: ‘It is vital that parents and carers know that they are valued, appreciated and that their voice will be heard.’
The letter continues: ‘Our intention firstly was to apologise to our community for which I hope this communication goes some way in doing that.
‘We will be reviewing our approach to covering politically and socially sensitive issues and will be addressing the concerns raised by the presentation with our pupils in an open and balanced manner.
‘May I thank you for your understanding on an occasion when usually high standards have not been met.’
A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: ‘At around 9am on September 29, we were called to an incident at a school on Warburton Lane in Trafford after reports of a disturbance.
‘During our officers’ initial attendance, a man was arrested on suspicion of assault on an emergency worker after an altercation at the school
‘Following further enquiries, the man was released without charge, with no further action to be taken.’
The Daily Mail has approached Broadoak School, which is part of the Dean Trust group of schools, for comment.
