A teacher faces being struck off after they allegedly had a Bobby Sands coffee cup in the classroom.

The teacher in Scotland is also accused of having a "Free Derry" postcard and Christmas card within the classroom among other charges.

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) said the alleged incidents took place during the 2013/2014 academic year.

The name of the school and teacher has been withheld.

A hearing of the Fitness To Teach Panel will take place next week in Edinburgh where the teacher faces struck off the teaching register or disciplined.

The GTCS alleges the teacher used "prior knowledge of the content of the 2014 Modern Studies exam to advise pupils on the areas to study in advance of the exam".

And of having "inappropriate contact with pupils personally by email."

It also alleges the teacher had "inappropriate items in the classroom" including a “Free Derry” Christmas Card, a “Free Derry” postcard and a “Bobby Sands mug".

The teacher is also accused of using "inappropriate language" within their notes at a development day in August 2014 where they allegedly wrote "h** town".

Another allegation is the teacher shared "music with a colleague who was a probationer, which was inappropriate and in doing so, you did breach your employer’s Information Technology Policy".

The GTCS said: "And in light of the above, it is alleged that your fitness to teach is impaired and you are unfit to teach."

On May 5, 1981 IRA prisoner Bobby Sands became the first of 10 republicans to die on hunger strike at the Maze Prison. The hunger strike followed the dirty protest in a long running campaign for political status within the jail.

Sands had been voted in as the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone at a by election just a month before his death.

Belfast Telegraph