A SPECIAL-needs teacher has been sacked for misconduct’ London’s East End for wearing trainers to school. Maths and deaf-support teacher Adrian Swain was dismissed for failing to adhere to a new dress code at St Paul’s Way Secondary in Bow Common where he has taught for 17 years

Gemma Collins

A SPECIAL-needs teacher has been sacked for misconduct’ in London’s East End—for wearing trainers to school, he claims.

Maths and deaf-support teacher Adrian Swain was dismissed for failing to adhere to a new dress code at St Paul’s Way Secondary in Bow Common where he has taught for 17 years.

But the 57-year-old teachers’ union rep who has worn trainers and tracksuit throughout his years at the school insists the acting Head should have consulted staff before imposing the new rules.

The dress code—including bans on jeans, hooded jumpers, tracksuits and trainers—was introduced by Interim Head Lorraine Page in September.

Mr Swain, the school’s National Union of Teachers representative, is a former maths teacher who has since transferred to a supportive role for kids with special needs in maths, science and PE at St Paul’s Way.

He also helps pupils with their PE excercises who have special conditions such as cerebral palsy.

He was dismissed on Thursday (Dec 18) for “refusing to abide by reasonable management to dress sensibly” despite a formal warning.

“I am stunned that in this day and age you can be sacked for wearing the wrong type of shoes,” he told the East London Advertiser.

“I haven’t a blot on my character and have suddenly been sacked for something I have always worn.”

The handbook was never negotiated with the union, he insists. Mr Swain believes he is the eighth staff member disciplined this year in the school which in June was given a Notice to Improve’ by the local education authority.

The school has been warned it will close or be turned into an academy unless it can get at least 30 per cent of pupils to pass in five good GCSEs including English and Maths. Most recent figures show eight-out-of-10 are not getting the right grades.