Teacher 'urged pupils to skip class'

A teacher has been suspended after an allegation that she encouraged her pupils to skip school to take part in protests against education cuts and rising tuition fees.

Sue Caldwell is understood to have been suspended from her post at Friern Barnet School in north London last month after a complaint from a parent. She denies the allegation.

A Barnet Council spokesman said: "We can confirm a teacher has been suspended at Friern Barnet School. We would stress that the school has a duty of care and a suspension should be seen as a commitment to fulfilling this duty, rather than a comment in any way on the individual.

"We cannot comment further on any HR issue at this stage."