Teachers call for end to Trojan Horse proceedings

Two Birmingham teachers at centre of the "Trojan Horse" affair have applied to have disciplinary proceedings against them thrown out.

A solicitor representing Hardeep Saini, the former deputy head of Golden Hillock School and Monzoor Hussain, the former principal of Park View School, says the case against his clients is prejudiced.

This is the latest twist in a process that's been going on since the Summer of 2015.

The teachers are appearing with three others before a disciplinary panel of the National College for Teaching and Leadership in Coventry.

The allegations against all five teachers stem from the so-called Trojan Horse affair which involved an alleged plot to introduce conservative Islamic ideology into several Birmingham schools.

Two teachers from Park View School in Alum Rock were barred from teaching for life by the Department for Education as a result of earlier hearings - but later had their bans overturned by the High Court.

Jahangir Akhbar, a former acting principal at Oldknow Academy in Small Heath was barred from teaching for life following his hearing.

All the schools involved have since been renamed and are under new leadership.

Today, Andrew Faux, the solicitor representing Monzoor Hussain, the former principal of Park View School in Alum Rock, and Hardeep Saini the former deputy head of Golden Hillock School in Sparkhill, told the disciplinary panel that the case against them should be dismissed.

He argued that the NCTL's lawyers has mismanaged the case and are now seeking to rely on evidence given by former staff members and others - without disclosing it in full to the teachers.

He said that failure had resulted in the case becoming prejudiced against his clients.

The NCTL disciplinary panel is expected to announce its decision on the submission later this week.