Top grammar school suspends teacher for using mug featuring image of the Prophet Muhammad
- Colchester Royal Grammar School teacher said to have been pictured with item
- The mug allegedly featured an image from a cartoon series called Jesus And Mo
- A school spokesman said the staff member is ‘currently away from the school’
- It follows a former student accusing the school of having a ‘toxic rape culture’
A teacher at a top grammar school has been suspended after allegedly using a mug with an image depicting the Prophet Muhammad.
The staff member at Colchester Royal Grammar School in Essex is said to have been photographed with the item, which had a picture from a cartoon series called Jesus And Mo on it.
They have been suspended from their role, a source said.
A school spokesman said: ‘We have been notified that an image has been shared online of an individual appearing to use a cup that has an offensive image on it.
‘At this time we are looking into the matter.
The teacher at Colchester Royal Grammar School (file photo, above) in Essex is said to have been seen with the mug, which featured an image from a cartoon series called Jesus And Mo
Colchester Royal Grammar School is renowned for being one of the highest-ranking in the country for its A-Level results, and has been in the Sunday Times Top 10 seven times in the past ten years. Pictured: the school’s headmaster John Russell
‘While we cannot comment on individuals, this will be reviewed in line with our policies and procedures and the appropriate robust action taken as necessary.
‘The staff member concerned is currently away from the school.’
Colchester Royal Grammar School is renowned for being one of the highest-ranking in the country for its A-Level results, and has been in the Sunday Times Top 10 seven times in the past ten years.
In 2020, 39 of its pupils were offered places at Oxbridge colleges.
But an Ofsted report, published last year, found that leaders in the school had not ensured that boys understand ‘how to interact appropriately’ with girls, and some male pupils could be rude and make ‘inappropriate remarks’.
It concluded that parts of the school had become a ‘hostile environment’ for some pupils.
Last month, headmaster John Russell was recorded telling pupils that Ofsted had an ‘agenda’ and was being ‘political’ ahead of an inspection, reported the BBC.
He told pupils: ‘I’d argue this is political and actually linked to their preconceptions when they came in.’
Colchester Royal Grammar was accused last year of having a ‘toxic and ubiquitous rape culture’ in a blog post by former student Scarlett Mansfield (pictured above)
Mr Russell added: ‘They did come to this school with an agenda, which means a preconception.’
It came after Colchester Royal Grammar was accused last year of having a ‘toxic and ubiquitous rape culture’ in a blog post by former student Scarlett Mansfield.
She said that topics such as domestic abuse and homophobia were treated as a joke at the predominantly-male school – which only accepts girls in Sixth Form.
Mr Russell wrote at the time that he was ‘shocked and saddened’ by reports of ‘wholly unacceptable behaviours and attitudes’ that some female students experienced during their time at the institution.
The school said it has ‘changed considerably’ since Scarlett was a student and ‘continue to make acts of prejudice, discrimination or abuse socially unacceptable’.
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