A history teacher has been barred from the profession indefinitely after a disciplinary panel found he promoted extreme far-right views, described Islam as 'satanic', and humiliated pupils with abusive language.
Unprofessional conduct and extremist writings
Patrick Lawler, 62, who taught in Northumberland and Bristol, was found to have committed gross misconduct by a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) professional conduct panel. The panel, sitting in Coventry, ruled his behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and posed a serious risk to public confidence in teachers.
The hearing investigated a series of allegations, including that Lawler authored newsletters under the name The Flock. In these writings, he described Islam as 'demonic' and 'satanically-inspired'. He also wrote that sex between two men was an 'unnatural, unhealthy, disgusting perversion' and labelled abortion 'a great wickedness'. Further writings made inflammatory and unsubstantiated claims about Catholic priests.
Inappropriate lessons and abusive comments
The panel upheld multiple allegations regarding Lawler's conduct in the classroom. While teaching a Year 6 class at Bede Academy in Northumberland in 2019, he was supposed to deliver a medieval history lesson but instead launched into political commentary. He told pupils the civil rights activist Martin Luther King was a 'fraud' and falsely claimed that Rosa Parks did not really exist.
In 2020, during a discussion about Black Lives Matter, he told pupils the acronym BLM stood for 'Burn, Loot, Murder'. In another unrelated lesson in December 2020, he began talking about drugs, telling pupils how 'back in the day, you used to be able to get cocaine, purer'. A student stated this comment was entirely unprompted.
Lawler also used abusive language towards students. After poor mock exam results, he told GCSE pupils he was surprised they were not 'hanging from lampposts'. On another occasion, he swore in front of pupils, saying: 'Do you want some other bastard to teach you?'
Conspiracy theories and failure to engage
The teacher also promoted dangerous conspiracy theories to students. He claimed there was no scientific evidence for Covid-19 and incorrectly told them they could eat unlimited amounts of salt 'without getting poisoned'.
The panel heard that Lawler repeatedly ignored formal warnings and advice from school leaders dating back to 2019, which explicitly instructed him to stop sharing personal and controversial views with pupils. Despite these warnings, he continued the same behaviour while working as a supply teacher in Bristol in 2022.
Lawler did not attend the hearing and was not represented. The panel's findings were separate from a subsequent BBC Wales undercover documentary, Unmasked: Extreme Far Right, which in 2024 filmed Lawler telling a reporter a race war was 'absolutely inevitable' and making violently xenophobic remarks about foreigners.
Panel's verdict and permanent ban
Panel chair Louisa Munton stated: 'The public expects teachers to guide pupils through curriculum topics with balance, impartiality and in an age-appropriate manner... The public does not expect teachers to divert from curriculum topics and take up the position of an activist, lobbyist, or advocate for any particular cause they may personally agree with.'
Signing off the prohibition order, civil servant Marc Cavey said: 'In my judgement, the lack of evidence that Mr Lawler has developed full insight into his behaviour means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future well-being of pupils.'
Lawler has been struck off the teaching register indefinitely and cannot reapply to the profession for four years. He has 28 days to appeal the decision.
