The largest teachers’ union in the UK is encouraging teachers to advocate for Palestine in schools, even though such action is illegal. The NEU is holding a workshop on “Understanding and advocating for Palestine in our schools” in Liverpool on 14 June 2025.
UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has written to all MPs and councillors in the Liverpool area to warn them about this forthcoming meeting.
The poster for the event says: “There is solidarity in learning and teaching. Knowledge plants a seed and that seed grows to bear fruit so we can ensure our solidarity with all Palestinians.”
UKLFI has pointed out in its letters to Liverpool local authorities and MPs that this call for teachers to promote partisan political views in schools goes against the government’s policy on political impartiality in schools and encourages teachers to breach legal prohibitions on indoctrination in schools.
The NEU had, during its last conference, vowed to produce school resources that “raise awareness’ of the situation in Palestine”.
The logos on the advert for the upcoming meeting suggest that the NEU is collaborating with the organisation Makan on this meeting. Makan produces educational resources and delivers workshops to “enhance advocacy for Palestinian liberation” and is dedicated to promoting advocacy of the Palestinian cause among educators.
Section 406 of the Education Act 1996 requires the local authority, governing body and head teacher to forbid the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject at a maintained school in England or Wales and the pursuit of any partisan political activities by junior pupils at such a school.
Section 407 of the same Act further requires the local authority, governing body and head teacher to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that pupils are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views on political issues when they are brought to the attention of pupils while attending a maintained school in England or Wales or taking part in extra-curricular activities provided or organised by the school.
Similar requirements are imposed on academies and independent schools in England and Wales under the Education (Independent Schools Standards) Regulations 2014.
If teachers advocate for Palestine in schools or disseminate resources in schools that spread misleading information about the situation in Palestine, these provisions will be breached.
UKLFI has called on the Minister for Education, MPs and local authorities to
- remind teachers of their legal obligations regarding political impartiality;
- consider what additional steps can be taken to prevent teachers from pursuing political agendas at school and
- ensure teachers behave in ways that uphold the standards expected of them both inside and outside of school.
Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI commented: “We hope that head teachers and local authorities will be aware of the NEU’s campaign to undermine government policy on political impartiality, and will take steps to ensure that the teachers in their schools will not be introducing any political propaganda into schools.”