Schools and libraries take different approaches to David Walliams books

Some schools have removed David Walliams’ books after allegations of sexual misconduct against the author, while public libraries are taking different approaches. A school leaders’ union has called for government guidance to help head teachers decide what to do.

Darren Morgan, head of Kings Road Primary School in Manchester, told the BBC he had removed Walliams’ books. He said the stories had been useful in encouraging reading, but that the allegations made it difficult to keep them on the shelves.

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said several members had taken the same decision. He urged the government to issue national guidance rather than leave individual heads to make differing choices. The number of schools that have removed the books is not known.

The decisions follow a joint Guardian and ITV News investigation in which several women accused Walliams of sexual misconduct, including grooming when they were teenagers. Walliams denies wrongdoing. In a letter to the journalists, he said he regretted sometimes behaving thoughtlessly in casual sexual relationships, but denied abusing his position and said he had not broken the law.

In north London, Camden Council has put Walliams’ books into storage. A spokesperson told the Camden New Journal that removing them from display was the most appropriate action following the allegations. Schools in the borough are making their own decisions, the newspaper reported.

Kent County Council, by contrast, told the BBC it had no plans to remove his titles and did not make stock decisions through blanket bans on authors. Surrey County Council said demand for the books had fallen significantly in recent years, but they remained available to borrow.

Some parents are also reconsidering the books. The Independent spoke to a parent and primary school teacher in London who said she had asked her school to remove them. She had already objected to what she saw as stereotypes in the stories.

Author Chloe Combi told the BBC she did not think a ban was appropriate and argued that parents should talk to children about the allegations. She said she was nevertheless sympathetic to schools and bookshops making individual decisions to withdraw the books.