The former chief inspector of schools, Maurice Smith, who will lead the inquiry, will report next Janaury. In a letter to Smith, Balls said: "I have always believed that membership of any organisation that espouses racist views is fundamentally incompatible with the values and ethos of the teaching profession...A number of recent events have caused me to reflect on whether the current safeguards are drawn in the right place. In the last year there have been two referrals of teachers to the GTCE concerning activities related to the promotion of racist beliefs. Further, the release of information on membership of the BNP revealed 15 individuals who identified teaching as their profession. We cannot know how many more may have chosen not to reveal their occupation."
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