Bridget Philpson urges teachers not to take part in pro-Gaza protests

The Education Secretary last night urged teachers not to take part in pro-Palestine demonstrations at schools today.

Bridget Phillipson said the action would make British Jews feel ‘intimidated’ and that taking part would be ‘completely unacceptable’.

Militant union bosses have been accused of trying to create a ‘hostile’ atmosphere for Jewish people by organising the demonstrations across the public sector.

Thousands of teachers, NHS staff and civil servants are expected to take part in the ‘workplace day of action’ today in protest at the war in Gaza.

They have been encouraged to turn up to work wearing red, green and black clothing - the colours of the Palestinian flag - and badges in support of the Palestinian cause.

But Ms Phillipson told the Daily Mail that the demos were ill-advised and divisive and that teachers should leave their political views at the school gate.

She said: ‘I would urge the minority of teachers considering taking part in protests on Thursday to think very carefully about the message they are sending to children and young people, and in particular Jewish students.

‘Many Jewish young people, including in schools and in universities, have experienced abhorrent anti-Semitism, particularly over the past year.

‘For any pupil to feel unwelcome or intimidated in their school is completely unacceptable.

‘Political impartiality in our schools matters; the safety and belonging of Jewish students matters; and as Education Secretary the interests of children and young people will always come first.’

Ms Phillipson is understood to be ‘very concerned’ by the potential impact of the protest on Jewish pupils - and by the risk that it could breach strict rules on political impartiality in the classroom.

These state that schools should not promote partisan political views in teaching and offer a balanced presentation of opposing views when political issues are brought to the attention of pupils.

A Whitehall source added: ‘Schools have very clear guidance about the requirement for political impartiality. It should be abundantly clear to them what their obligations are. Any discussion of these issues in school has to be balanced - there can be no perception of political partiality at all.’

The protests are being organised by Trades Union Congress (TUC), Unison, National Education Union (NEU), along with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Stop The War Coalition (SWC).

Many workers are expected to attend rallies outside NHS hospitals, public schools and councils during their lunch breaks.

Protests and vigils are being planned outside at least six NHS hospitals, including St Mary’s Hospital in London, the Manchester Royal Infirmary and the Bristol Royal Infirmary in what organisers are describing as ‘the biggest day of action yet’.

NEU members working at scores of Sixth Form colleges are also expected to demonstrate ‘their support for Palestine’ while striking as part of a separate pay dispute.

Ahead of the protests, Jewish groups wrote to Ms Phillipson to highlight the damaging impact they believe the demonstrations will have on ‘community cohesion’.

Lawyers have also contacted headteachers around the country to remind them of their legal obligation to ensure that pupils are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views in schools.

A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies of British Jews said: ‘This [workplace day of action] represents a continued failure of unions to support workers if they are Jewish.

‘It is time for these unions to decide, are they there to support workers or to play student politics on a conflict on whose facts they appear to be plainly ignorant.’