School apologises after comparing Nigel Farage and Reform MP to far-right dictator
A secondary school in Nottinghamshire has apologized after photos of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and MP Lee Anderson appeared on a classroom board alongside fascist and far-right politicians.
Photos of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and British fascist leader Oswald Mosley appeared next to two Reform MPs.
Quarrydale Academy, a secondary school in Sutton-in-Ashfield, has since removed the display and is launching an internal review.
The town’s MP, Mr Anderson, condemned the school by posting a photo of the display on Facebook. He said: “This is what our children are being made to look at. Show our children where to look. They will make their own decisions.”
The wall displayed a political spectrum with images of leaders from far-left to far-right politics, including photographs of former prime ministers Margaret Thatcher, Boris Johnson and Sir Tony Blair.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Anderson said: “Year 9 students at Quarrydale Academy in Ashfield are currently studying politics and their display boards had the words ‘far-right parties’, ‘Nazi party’ and ‘fascism’. Alongside these words were pictures of Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, my dear friend the Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage) and me.”
Education Minister Georgia Gould responded: “We have strict rules about political neutrality in our education system and we are clear about those rules. All schools must enforce them.”
Tim Paling, headteacher at Quarrydale Academy, confirmed that the display has since been removed. He said: “The exhibition was a visual aid and aimed to stimulate debate about how political ideas are classified in historical contexts.
“However, we recognize that the placement of some contemporary political figures in this exhibition may be considered inappropriate or easily misinterpreted.
“The school is reviewing how political and historical content is presented in lessons to ensure that context is clear at all times and that no material is misinterpreted or offended. Quarrydale Academy would like to apologize for any concern, offense or distress this may have caused.”
The headmaster insisted that the school did not promote any political viewpoint and that the exhibition was part of a wider series of lessons on political ideologies in 20th-century Europe.
“We take seriously our responsibility to ensure that students understand political history without drawing inappropriate parallels with today’s individuals or parties. We are in communication with parents, governors and relevant stakeholders and will continue to ensure transparency as we complete our internal review.”
