BNP governors to be imposed on schools

Teachers' leaders are seeking talks with Charles Clarke, the Education Secretary, after being told they cannot stop a local council appointing British National Party (BNP) members as school governors.

Teachers' leaders are seeking talks with Charles Clarke, the Education Secretary, after being told they cannot stop a local council appointing British National Party (BNP) members as school governors.

Councillors in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, have voted to allow the dominant party in each ward to take seats on local governing bodies under a reorganisation required by new government regulations.

The decision means that the BNP could take 10 or 11 seats on governing bodies as they fall vacant in the Mixenden/Illingworth ward on the outskirts of Halifax, where the party has two councillors. The BNP has indicated that it will take up four school seats already vacant.

The NUT sought legal advice on the issue last week and has approached Mr Clarke after it was told that it could remove the party's councillors from governing boards only if they failed to attend meetings.

"One member of the BNP on a governing body is one too many," said Steve Sinnott, the NUT general secretary.

The Department for Education and Skills has overhauled governing bodies to make them more accountable and representative of their communities.