A teacher has been handed a prohibition order after a misconduct panel ruled he told pupils that gay and transgender people are "mentally ill." Supply teacher William Garwood, 60, made the comments during a Year 11 history lesson at St Mary’s Menston Catholic Voluntary Academy in West Yorkshire on October 5, 2023.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) professional conduct panel found the allegations proven following a hearing in May 2026. The incident came to light after multiple pupils submitted statements detailing the lesson. Pupil witnesses reported that, when asked about "just wars", Garwood replied in the affirmative before launching into an unprompted discussion about Vladimir Putin.

One pupil recalled the teacher saying he was "happy" that Putin was killing "satanic Nazis" in Ukraine and claimed the world was run by billionaires who created "evil Ukrainians". Multiple pupils recalled him stating that Ukrainians were "Nazis" or "satanists" funded by big banks.

In the same lesson, the panel found Garwood told pupils that "gay and transgender people are mentally ill" and corrupt. He allegedly expanded on this by stating that "billionaires are the cause of transgenders and they print it in the media and influence people”.

The panel concluded these remarks amounted to discriminatory behaviour, noting that his statements lacked any relevance to the history of Nazi Germany curriculum topic being delivered.

The panel also reviewed evidence that Garwood told the classroom "9/11 was planned by the US Government".

Garwood defended his position by citing his Islamic faith and a philosophical belief in anti-Nazism under Section 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

He argued that students had misinterpreted his statements, forming a "false caricature" of him, and asserted that the investigation represented a politically motivated reaction to a legitimate difference of opinion.

The panel rejected his defence, finding his comments "clearly inappropriate", intolerant and delivered without any attempt to provide balance. They noted that his actions showed limited insight or remorse and heavily criticised him for using his religious stance to "emotionally manipulate safeguarding professionals".

The panel determined that Garwood's conduct fell short of professional standards, breaching requirements to show tolerance, respect for others and uphold fundamental British values. He has been prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot apply to have the order set aside until June 2032.