Teachers have been accused of bringing ‘anti-Brexit bias’ into their discussions (Picture: Google Maps)

Teachers at a secondary school have been accused of pushing their own anti-Brexit beliefs in assemblies and classrooms.

Sixth form students at St Joseph’s Catholic High School say teachers have told them backing a second EU referendum ‘would be in their interest’.

They say a senior teacher mocked Donald Trump and Boris Johnson in an assembly last week, telling students: ‘We’re not going to remember these two’.

Some students worry staff could ‘mould the minds’ of younger pupils who are still forming their own political beliefs and fear it could be happening in schools across the country.


One student, who wished to remain anonymous, said teachers have made comments here and there for some time.



But the 17-year-old said last Wednesday’s assembly on the topic of leadership was a particular sticking point.

Boris Johnson is not the most popular man among staff at St Joseph’s Catholic High School (Picture: PA)

He told Metro.co.uk: ‘He was talking about how Brexit was bad for us and how Brexit was going to affect us really badly then he got up a picture of Boris Johnson, mocking him.

After showing a pictures of Johnson and Trump, the student says the staff member then showed a picture of climate change activist Greta Thunberg and said: ‘We’re going to remember her, we’re not going to remember these two’.

Recalling how he discussed Trump, Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg, another year 13 student said the same teacher ‘essentially implied they were idiots’ with the way he was talking about them.

One of the boys said another senior teacher actively encouraged students to back a second referendum at an ‘enrichment session’ late last year.

He said: ‘He just tells us about how Brexit isn’t good for us and how it’s going to ruin our future.’

Donald Trump was also targeted during an assembly, students have said (Picture: AP)

Students have described teachers at the Slough school telling them they are ‘all going to lose their jobs’ as peddling ‘propaganda’.

They worry teachers might be affecting younger pupils who are more easily influenced and are yet to shape their own political beliefs.

One student said: ‘You could pretty much mould them. Tell them what you wan and they will start believing it.

‘I fear that this is happening across the country in schools. It’s not really their place to do so.’

He said one senior teacher has come into the classroom and has ‘interacted with pupils for about 20 minutes talking to us about Brexit.

‘I’ve no doubt that he must have been talking about this sort of thing to other classes.’

Arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg was also discussed in the assembly (Picture: EPA)

‘I just think that’s beyond opinion he’s just furthering his own agenda.’

The student described St Joseph’s as a ‘school very much against Brexit’.

He said teachers encouraged debate at his previous school but said ‘there was never a sense of bias’.

One of the students said another senior member of staff urged students to throw their weight behind a second referendum in class after playing a clip of a House of Commons debate.

They said: ‘I was just thinking the school’s not supposed to be promoting ideology like that.



‘If you’re at home or on social media that’s your place to share your opinion and thoughts, not at a school where there’s young minds, people who aren’t fully decided, people who haven’t decided which side of the political spectrum they’re on.

St Joseph’s said they have ‘explored all sides of the Brexit debate’ with students (Picture: Google Maps)

‘Just give us the facts. If Boris closes Parliament, just say that.’

In a statement, St Joseph’s told Metro.co.uk: ‘Our community is vibrant and diverse; one where we encourage different views and perspectives to be shared and discussed.

‘Just like every other school in the country, we have obviously looked at the current political environment we are in.

‘While it is impossible for us to say that no staff member has expressed a personal belief, we can say that through debates and discussions we have explored all sides of the Brexit debate.

‘It is a fantastic opportunity to engage young people in politics and democracy.

‘In doing so, it has never been our intention to try and influence any student’s political beliefs or views.

‘We do, however, encourage students to ensure that their views have foundations that are based on our school’s values and ethos.

‘That is why a recent assembly looked at leadership, and encouraged students to think about what defines principled and moral leadership in difficult times. It was not an assembly focused on influencing political beliefs.’

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