The General Teaching Council has dissociated itself from calls to boycott two Israel science days for schoolchildren next month.

Two of the 382 signatories of a letter to the Guardian last week calling on the Science Museum and Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry to cancel the events were described as being from the GTC, an independent body for the teaching profession.

But a statement issued by the GTC made clear that the signatories acted in an individual capacity: “It is not possible to establish, by name alone, if the listed signatories are teachers registered with the General Teaching Council for England.

“The GTC is represented by 64 council members and the named signatories are not members of the council.  These individuals have not acted on behalf of the General Teaching Council for England.”

The two days have been organised by the Zionist Federation in celebration of Israel’s 60th anniversary and feature presentations from scientists travelling from seven Israeli institutions.