Schools Accused of Political Indoctrination
Several prestigious, state-funded secondary schools in London are facing claims of political “indoctrination.” This comes after they presented students with materials suggesting that Nigel Farage’s British Reform Party is associated with “fascism.”
The Orion Group operates eight publicly funded schools in southern London. Recently, they displayed an illustration to year 10 students (ages 14-15) that depicted the political spectrum. In this graphic, the Reform Party and the UK Independence Party (UKIP) were placed at the “fascism” end of a swastika-shaped spectrum, alongside the British National Party (BNP) and Adolf Hitler’s National Socialists.
The graphic asserted that certain supporters of UKIP and the Reform Party hold “radical views.” Additionally, the schools provided handouts featuring the image of Richard Tice, the Reform Party’s deputy leader, in discussions about what they termed political “extremism.” This was defined as a rejection of British values, such as mutual respect and adherence to democratic principles.
Students were informed that far-right ideologies might harm communities, lead to increased hate crimes, and pose threats to democracy. There was a suggestion that sensational headlines about migrants often presented by some media outlets, particularly concerning “small boat crossings” in the English Channel, could escalate fear and anger—emotions that far-right groups might exploit.
The schools advised students against getting their news from these outlets and instead encouraged them to seek information from what they deemed “trustworthy” sources like the BBC and the Guardian.
The Reform Party has been gaining traction, leading in polls and expected to perform well in the upcoming general election. However, it faces increasing accusations from more liberal factions, labeling it as “far-right” or “fascist,” despite its insistence on engaging in the democratic process.
The BBC previously had to apologize for labeling the Reform Party as “far-right,” acknowledging that it did not align with its editorial standards. Tice reached out to Simon Galil, the chief executive of Orion Education, expressing that the materials presented were not only factually incorrect but also offensive and potentially defamatory. He hinted at possible legal action.
Tice emphasized that, in his and his legal team’s view, such content violations not only breach educational guidelines but also the obligation to maintain political neutrality as a registered charity. He criticized the distribution of misleading information to young people as a significant failure of duty and professionalism.
Moreover, Serge Sefay, executive principal of St. Thomas the Apostle School, indicated that the bias exhibited was a clear violation of educational standards and called for an investigation by the education regulator Ofsted. He noted that teachers should focus on teaching facts rather than opinions, warning that straying into opinion-based education could lead to serious issues. His comments implied that this approach felt more like indoctrination than education.
