Teachers are warned not to take part in protests in school time

Teachers have been warned by union leaders that they should not take part in anti-war protests during the school day.

The biggest teachers' union, the National Union of Teachers, has warned that missing lessons to take part in protests could leave teachers open to disciplinary procedures.

Last week thousands of pupils left school to take part in protests against the conflict in Iraq - and the union leaders are making clear that teachers should not join them.

"The responsibility of teachers is to ensure that pupils are educated, not to encourage them to play truant. There are plenty of opportunities for the issues to be discussed in schools, in lessons such as citizenship," said general secretary Doug McAvoy.

"Teachers who walk out of schools during the school day will be in breach of contract and as such are liable to discipline by their school governing body."

'Disciplinary procedures'

Eamonn O'Kane, leader of the National Association of School Masters Union of Women Teachers, echoed the need for protests to be kept outside school hours, for both pupils and staff.

"The responsibility which schools have for their pupils means they must not condone the absence of pupils protesting against the war.

"These demonstrations must be made outside school hours or otherwise recorded as unauthorised absences.

"Members leaving school to take part in protests must also be aware that this is unofficial industrial action which could leave them vulnerable to disciplinary procedures and therefore cannot be condoned by the NASUWT."