Haverstock School condemns former teacher for Margaret Thatcher ‘death party’ in Brixton
Haverstock School headteacher John Dowd has condemned a former teacher for allegedly organising a Margaret Thatcher 'death party'. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Archant
A school has distanced itself from a teacher vilified by a national newspaper for allegedly organising a Margaret Thatcher “death party”.
Craig Parr (pictured left) was criticised on today's Daily Mail front page, along with another teacher from Brighton - Credit: Archant
Haverstock School’s headteacher issued a statement condemning special needs teacher Craig Parr and saying he has not worked at the school, in Haverstock Hill, Chalk Farm, since February.
Mr Parr, 27, was accused of organising a party to celebrate the former prime minister’s demise in Brixton on the front page of today’s Daily Mail.
The newspaper described his behaviour as “disgraceful” alongside a picture of him holding up a banner that read: “Rejoice – Thatcher is dead.”
Haverstock headteacher John Dowd said: “Craig Parr was employed from September 2012 as a teacher of special educational needs on a one year fixed-term contract.
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“He resigned his post in February 2013 due to concerns that I raised with him about his conduct and he has not attended school since that time.
“His views and actions are his alone, but I would condemn this action in the strongest possible terms.
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“Our approach to the teaching of politics and indeed to developing an objective understanding of the range of political positions, doctrines and views are fundamental to our ethos.
“Margaret Thatcher’s death has clearly led to a polarisation of views about her role as prime minister.
“As a school community we would offer her our respect and offer our condolences to her family, as we would for any of our families suffering bereavement.”
The Ham&High has contacted Mr Parr but has not yet received any comment from him.
Haverstock has gained national recognition because a number of senior Labour politicians are former pupils.
In the 1970s and 1980s both Labour leader Ed Miliband and his brother David Miliband attended the school and former Labour MP Oona King was also a pupil.
David Miliband has also been a guest teacher of politics at the school since he took a step back from frontline politics after narrowly losing the Labour leadership race to his brother Ed in September 2010.
