A South London school is being accused of promoting both incorrect and partisan political views by its lunch tables.

The tables, which feature a map of the world and lists of the countries of the world with their capital cities, give the capital of Israel as Tel Aviv.  On the other hand, they state that the capital of Palestine is Jerusalem.

These tables are branded Smart Top, and were sold by Space Right Europe Ltd.  The school had six of the tables, which are being used in an outdoor snack area.

A parent of one of the students alerted UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), who wrote to the head teacher, pointing out the errors on the tables, and also the possible breaches of the law that ensue from this.

UKLFI explained that the table, with its misinformation, could be contrary to section 406 of the Education Act 1996, headed “Political Indoctrination”, if used as a teaching aid.

The school also appears to be in breach of Section 407 of the Education Act 1996, headed “Duty to secure balanced treatment of political issues”, which states:

“The local authority, governing body and head teacher shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that where political issues are brought to the attention of pupils while they are in attendance at a maintained school….. they are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views.”

UKLFI has also written to Space Right, the company which sold the tables, requesting that since they were responsible for producing and distributing this incorrect and misleading information, they should arrange for the errors to be corrected, on all the tables at schools to whom they have sold the tables.

Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI commented: “This misinformation appears to have been slipped into schools by someone with an agenda.  It should not be tolerated, whether on school lunch tables, airlines’ electronic maps, or phone company’s lists.”