Teacher discussed cocaine with pupils and called Islam 'satanic'

He was also found to have said in December 2020 that "back in the day, you used to be able to get cocaine, purer", or words to that effect.

A pupil said Mr Lawler started talking about the drug of his own volition and it was in no way related to the lesson.

The panel also found him to have told pupils that they should all be "hanging from lampposts" because of poor performance in their mock exams.

The hearing was told this was while the class were discussing mental health and life expectancy, with one pupil "taken aback" as she was "going through struggles" at the time.

The panel heard Mr Lawler was warned about his conduct by his employer at the time.

Bede Academy, having received advice in April 2019, sent a warning letter in July 2019, and Mr Lawler was the subject of disciplinary action in December 2020.

But he later resigned his position during the course of that investigation, going on to work for a supply teaching agency in Bristol, in September 2022.

The hearing concluded that he engaged in further inappropriate or unprofessional behaviour in a lesson at Bristol Brunel Academy, stating that there was "no scientific proof of Covid-19" in September 2022.

When further concerns were raised, the agency he worked for later referred him to the Teaching Regulation Agency.

The panel found that Mr Lawler had simply "moved into advancing his own controversial views and did so in an unbalanced fashion".

Chairwoman Louisa Munton said his actions "could not be reasonably considered as trivial, inconsequential or a mere temporary lapse" and constituted "unacceptable professional conduct and or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute".