Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Political Impartiality in Schools

Monday 14 March 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Jonathan Gullis asked about steps to ensure political impartiality in schools, highlighting concerns over teacher extremism and trade union influence.
  • Jonathan Gullis inquired about holding politically motivated trade unions accountable to prevent them from pushing a far-left agenda through teachers.
  • Anum Qaisar asked if the government has contacted UK students in Ukraine and what support is being provided, to which the Minister confirmed contact and assistance including emergency accommodation and financial aid.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jonathan Gullis
Education Democracy & Elections
Context

Concerns about political bias and extremism in education, particularly regarding teachers pushing extremist views on pupils and trade unions like NEU hindering school re-openings.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure political impartiality in schools. A minority of teachers push extremist nonsense such as white privilege, cancel important figures, aided by politically motivated trade unions like NEU demanding unrealistic plans for school reopening and blaming NATO for Ukraine invasion instead of Putin.

Answer from Robin Walker

My hon. Friend speaks bravely based on his experience as a teacher, and the new guidance supports schools in making good decisions about working with external agencies without breaching legal duties.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures to hold trade unions accountable were not provided

How: Speaking Bravely Based On Personal Experience, New Guidance Will Help

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Q2 Jonathan Gullis
Education
Context

Concerns about political bias and extremism in education, particularly regarding teachers pushing extremist views on pupils.

Question

Some teachers push extremist nonsense such as white privilege, cancel important figures. How will we hold politically motivated trade unions accountable to prevent them from using teachers as a gateway to push their far-left agenda?

Answer from Robin Walker

Pupils must form their own political views, schools should not indoctrinate or encourage children to support any particular political ideology. The new guidance helps schools make good decisions about working with external agencies and ensures engagement does not breach legal duties.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures to hold trade unions accountable were not provided

How: Pupils Must Form Their Own Political Views, New Guidance Helps Schools

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Q3 Anum Qaisar
Education Ukraine
Context

UK students trapped in Ukraine due to harrowing scenes there.

Question

Can the Minister confirm whether contact has been made with UK students still in Ukraine and what support is provided?

Answer from Robin Walker

Yes, contact has been made. The government is providing various forms of support to help those affected by the situation in Ukraine, including practical assistance such as emergency accommodation and financial aid.

Answered
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