Teacher banned for calling children ‘weirdos’ wins High Court appeal

Religious education teacher Vasim Sahbir taught at the Vale Academy in Brigg, North Linconshire

 A BANNED teacher who called pupils with learning difficulties as “weirdos” and gave male pupils advice on how to juggle more than one girlfriend could teach again.

Religious education teacher Vasim Sahbir was struck off earlier this year but has now won a High Court appeal. 

His victory means that rather than being indefinitely banned, he can now apply for a review of the prohibition order - which prevents him from teaching in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England - after two years. 

Mr Sahbir, who taught at the Vale Academy in Brigg, North Lincolnshire, was given the ban after a professional conduct panel found he had shown “disrespect for pupils with learning difficulties, women and colleagues” and his behaviour was “threatening and intimidating”.

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He was struck off earlier this year but has now won a High Court appeal

A report on the panel's findings stated: “One pupil described Mr Shabir doing an impression of a child with learning difficulties and using the word 'weirdos' to describe their class. The pupil said Mr Shabir said 'he's never had such a big group of weirdos banging their heads against a wall'.” 

Although Mr Shabir denied the allegation, the panel found, based on pupils' evidence that “the allegation was proved” and the use of the term was “inappropriate”. 

The panel also found “on the balance of probabilities” he swore in the classroom and “explained to boys in the classroom how to have more than one girlfriend and get away with it”. 

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The panel also found he used his mobile phone in the classroom

One pupil told the panel he was “constantly telling us about his love life and how much of a player he is” and how he had more than one mobile phone “because of all the women” - an allegation the panel found was proved. 

Mr Shabir was acting in a derogatory manner towards girls in the school

National College for Teaching and Leadership

In March, a professional conduct panel of the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) ruled that Mr Sahbir was guilty of “misconduct seriously affecting the education and/or well-being of pupils” between October 2011 and November 2012. 

They found Mr Shabir showed an “overall disregard and lack of respect for women generally and that by his conduct, Mr Shabir was acting in a derogatory manner towards girls in the school”.

A colleague also told the panel she felt “undermined and intimidated” by Mr Shabir, which the panel found was proved. 

The panel also found he used his mobile phone in the classroom. 

Vale Academy principal Nicola Williams said in March the school had taken action to ensure students were safeguarded as soon as concerns were raised about Mr Shabir's conduct. 

She said: “The academy was pleased that the NCTL professional misconduct panel supported the academy's decision to pursue disciplinary proceedings against him and that this has led to him being prohibited from teaching.”

Express