A BLACK teacher who blamed racism for the poor behaviour of his students has been banned from the classroom.

Emmanuel Forson, who was dismissed from Harwich School in 2008, was barred for three years by the General Teaching Council (GTC).

The council’s professional conduct committee found Dr Forson had defied warnings to stop telling parents and students his race was a reason for unruly behaviour in his classes.

It found evidence Dr Forson - a maths teacher at the Hall Lane school since 2004 - had admitted saying to students: “You’re doing this because I’m black”.

Gail Mortimer, committee chairwoman, said: “We have seen no evidence that staff, students or parents spoke or acted in a racist manner towards Dr Forson.

“We would like to make it clear that we consider racism in any form to be totally unacceptable and to make unfounded allegations that pupils and colleagues have acted in a racist manner can only have been deeply hurtful and offensive to them.

“Teachers have a duty to demonstrate respect for diversity and promote equality and Dr Forson has failed in this regard.”

The committee also found that Dr Forson had been convicted at Ipswich Crown Court in July 2009 of two charges of taking a child out of the United Kingdom without the appropriate consent in October 2008, for which he received a suspended prison sentence.

Referring to these offences, Ms Mortimer added: “He has also shown a serious disregard for the law and the well-being of his own children.”

Ms Mortimer said he had also failed to follow the school’s behaviour policy by placing disruptive students outside the classroom rather than using the “safe room” to isolate them appropriately.

She said he also “made an inappropriate comment to a student by informing him to kneel by his bed and pray for forgiveness”.

She added: “Dr Forson was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. His conduct fell short of the standard expected of a registered teacher and was behaviour which involved a breach of the standards of propriety expected of the profession.”

GTC’s prohibition order means Dr Forson is no longer eligible to register as a teacher and teach in maintained schools or non-maintained special schools. He cannot apply for re-registration for three years. He has a right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.