Dame Alison Peacock, the chief executive of the Chartered College of Teaching has written to the government to complain after a new education minister appeared to raise her middle finger to a group of protesters.
Video footage of Andrea Jenkyns apparently putting her middle finger up to crowds outside Downing Street on Thursday before the PM’s resignation has prompting questions about her appointment, Schools Week reports.
Ms Jenkyns, the MP for Morley and Outwood, was appointed to the role of parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Education on Friday, as Boris Johnson reshuffled his caretaker government.
Her appointment came alongside that of former teacher Brendan Clarke-Smith who is also now parliamentary under-secretary of state at the DfE.
The secretary of state position was filled earlier in the week by James Cleverly.
At the weekend, Dame Alison Peacock said she had written to the DfE to “remind education ministers” of the Nolan Principles, or seven principles of public life.
They state that holders of public office should “exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect”.
“Our profession abides by these principles as part of our teacher standards,” she said.
In a section of her email to DfE permanent secretary Susan Acland-Hood, shared with Schools Week, Peacock said: “I understand that these are tense uncertain times in politics.
“But to proceed with a ministerial appointment of someone who is unable to abide by the principles of public life is sinking to a new low.”
Jenkyns has responded to criticisms of her behaviour by saying there was a “baying mob” outside the entrance to Downing Street and that she had received “huge amounts of abuse” in recent years and even death threats.
Jenkyns said she: “I responded and stood up for myself. just why should anyone have to put up with this sort of treatment.
“I should have shown more composure but am only human.”
Headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh, the government’s social mobility chair, said: “I said a few weeks ago that Boris Johnson was not a good role model for kids.
“I had no idea how bad it could get.”
