A SCHOOL head says he is“disappointed” and “saddened” by a remark questioning his suitability as a teacher overheard on a recording of a public meeting.

Andrew Ramsey, headmaster of St Michael’s RC Academy in Billingham, Teesside, spoke at a Stockton Borough Council cabinet meeting last week arguing against a council plan to cut free school buses.

After a vote was taken backing the proposal to cut the transport to faith schools Mr Ramsey tried to make an additional point from the floor but was not allowed.

About 30 seconds later many of the 150 or so protestors at the meeting in Stockton Baptist Tabernacle last Thursday started to leave but the microphone was left on at the top table.

It picked up a male voice which said: “I tell you what, I wouldn’t want him teaching my kids anything.”

A video of the meeting in which the offending comment was made was uploaded to YouTube.

However, it is not clear who made the comment. It is even possible a member of the public may have wandered over in the vicinity of the microphone although no one can be seen doing that on the video.

Leader of Stockton Borough Council, Bob Cook, said: “In the interests of transparency, and to comply with current legislation, the council films its planning committee meetings as well as cabinet and council.

“A passing comment can be heard on the footage, but as more than 100 people attended the meeting and made a variety of views known, both against and for the item, it is impossible to know who made the comment.”

Mr Ramsey said he had not heard the remark at the time, but had been made aware of it on the YouTube footage.

He said: “I would put it in the context of a passionate debate. But I am disappointed and saddened and I don’t think it reflects well on them. Such a personal remark is not acceptable.

“I spoke from the heart in the meeting.

“A local authority officer had referred to me personally and there was something not correct. I wanted to reply.

“There was a vote on the issue but it didn’t look like a vote. There were no hands raised or anything. I’m not a politician and it didn’t look like a vote.”

The cabinet voted unanimously to cut free transport to faith schools. That could affect an estimated 200 Roman Catholic pupils travelling between Norton, where St Joseph’s RC Primary has a long-standing relationship with St Michael’s Academy in Billingham.

Mr Ramsey stressed he wanted to work with the local authority in the future although the faith community was investigating other ways to oppose the policy.

He said: “We want to build bridges with the council.

“We are not only a Stockton school, but proudly so. We are committed to our community.”

He added that many Catholic and Church of England parents and teachers felt it was unfair their community had been chosen for the cuts.

“It is discrimination,” he said.