MINISTERS were accused of “amplifying divisions” today after criticising protests outside a school in Batley where a teacher had shown pupils a caricature of the Prophet Mohammed. 

A member of staff at Batley Grammar, near Bradford, has been suspended pending an investigation, with the school “unequivocally” apologising for showing “totally inappropriate” material to children. It said the teacher had sincerely apologised for the incident.

Protesters gathered outside the school for a second day today, accusing the school of not “taking the issue seriously” because of a four-day delay in the teacher’s suspension. The school conducted all learning remotely for a second day.