HEP Removes Israel-Gaza Slide After UKLFI Complaint in Haringey

Key Points

• Haringey Education Partnership (HEP), a non-profit company delivering training to teachers and staff in over 150 schools across Haringey, Enfield, and Waltham Forest, has removed a slide referencing the Israel-Gaza conflict from a teacher training session.
• The removal followed a formal complaint from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), which highlighted concerns over politically framed content in school training materials.
• The slide was part of a session focused on improving parent communications, but it caused several teachers to feel upset and uncomfortable, prompting them to leave the session.
• UKLFI argued that such content could foster a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli staff and might breach obligations under the Equality Act 2010, the Education Act 1996, and the Department for Education’s guidance on political impartiality in schools.
• HEP responded promptly by confirming the slide’s removal, stating it would not feature in future sessions, and announced a review of its training material approval process.
• HEP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding educators and ensuring compliance with statutory and professional duties.
• A UKLFI spokesperson welcomed HEP’s swift action, describing it as a positive example for maintaining respectful, inclusive, and legally compliant training, adding that teachers should not face politically charged content in professional settings.

Haringey, North London – Haringey Education Partnership (North London News) February 7 2026
The Haringey Education Partnership has excised a contentious slide on the Israel-Gaza conflict from its teacher training materials after a complaint from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), addressing concerns it created discomfort among educators. HEP, which supports over 150 schools in Haringey, Enfield, and Waltham Forest, acted decisively to uphold impartiality in professional development sessions. This development underscores ongoing debates about political neutrality in educational settings.

What Triggered the Complaint Against HEP’s Training Slide?

The incident centred on a single slide included in a training session designed to enhance parent communications among teachers and school staff. Several attendees reportedly felt so upset and uncomfortable with the politically framed reference to the Israel-Gaza conflict that they chose to leave the session midway.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), a pro-Israel legal advocacy group, lodged a formal complaint, arguing that introducing such content into mandatory professional training risked breaching key legal frameworks.

As outlined in UKLFI’s correspondence, the slide’s inclusion could cultivate a hostile environment particularly for Jewish and Israeli staff members working in these schools.

UKLFI specifically cited potential conflicts with the Equality Act 2010, which mandates protection against discrimination based on protected characteristics including race and religion; the Education Act 1996, which governs pupil welfare and school conduct; and the Department for Education’s statutory guidance on political impartiality. This guidance emphasises that schools must avoid promoting partisan views, ensuring balance in discussions of controversial issues.

No specific journalist attribution is available from initial reports, but UKLFI’s position reflects broader advocacy for safeguarding minority communities in public sector training environments.

How Did Haringey Education Partnership Respond to the Backlash?

HEP wasted no time in addressing the issue. The organisation confirmed outright that the offending slide has been permanently removed and will not reappear in any future training sessions. In a prepared statement, HEP detailed that it had initiated a comprehensive review of its entire training material approval process to prevent similar oversights.

Furthermore, HEP underscored its dedication to safeguarding all educators while adhering strictly to statutory requirements and professional standards.

“HEP is committed to providing high-quality, impartial training that supports our schools in delivering excellent education,”

the statement noted, though no individual spokesperson was named in the release. This response aligns with HEP’s role as a non-profit entity focused on professional development across multiple North London boroughs.

The swift remediation highlights HEP’s operational agility, serving as a model for other educational providers navigating sensitive content.

Why Did UKLFI Highlight Legal and Ethical Concerns?

UKLFI’s intervention was rooted in a blend of legal advocacy and ethical imperatives for inclusive workplaces. The group contended that politically charged materials in teacher training not only alienate staff but also imperil compliance with national education laws.

The Equality Act 2010, for instance, prohibits harassment or victimisation tied to protected characteristics, a threshold UKLFI believed the slide crossed by framing a highly polarising geopolitical issue without balance.

Similarly, the Education Act 1996 imposes duties on schools to promote pupil welfare, extending implicitly to staff training environments.

The Department for Education’s guidance on political impartiality, updated in recent years, explicitly warns against using school time or resources to advance one-sided political views. UKLFI’s complaint invoked these provisions to argue that the slide undermined professional neutrality.

What Was the Specific Impact on Teachers During the Session?

Teachers’ reactions formed the immediate catalyst for scrutiny. Multiple participants in the parent communications workshop expressed distress over the slide’s content, describing it as unexpectedly divisive in a setting meant for practical skills enhancement.

Their decision to exit the session en masse signalled acute discomfort, amplifying the issue from an internal grievance to one warranting external intervention.

This episode reveals the fine line educational trainers must walk when addressing real-world topics. While parent communications often touch on community tensions, injecting unresolved international conflicts without contextual balance can erode trust and focus.

No direct quotes from affected teachers have surfaced publicly, preserving their anonymity amid sensitivities.

What Does UKLFI’s Spokesperson Say About HEP’s Actions?

A spokesperson for UK Lawyers for Israel issued a measured endorsement of HEP’s response.

“We welcome HEP’s swift action to remove this slide and hope it sets a clear example for ensuring training is respectful, inclusive, and legally compliant,”

the spokesperson stated. They further emphasised:

“Teachers should never feel pressured to navigate politically charged content in a professional setting.”

This commentary, attributed directly to UKLFI without a named individual in available reports, positions the resolution as a benchmark for the sector. It also reinforces UKLFI’s mission to monitor and challenge perceived biases in public institutions, particularly those affecting Jewish communities.

What Is the Role of Haringey Education Partnership in North London Schools?

Established as a non-profit, HEP plays a pivotal role in elevating teaching standards across Haringey, Enfield, and Waltham Forest. It delivers bespoke training programmes to staff in more than 150 schools, covering areas from pedagogy to safeguarding and communications.

This reach amplifies the significance of the incident, as HEP’s materials influence a substantial portion of the region’s educational workforce.

HEP’s operations emphasise collaboration with local authorities and schools, positioning it as a trusted partner. The current furore prompts questions about vetting protocols for external or guest-prepared content, given the slide’s origins remain unspecified.

How Does This Fit Into Broader Debates on Political Impartiality in Schools?

This case echoes wider tensions in UK education over maintaining neutrality amid global flashpoints.

The Department for Education’s guidance, reiterated in non-statutory advice, stresses that schools – and by extension their training providers – must present balanced perspectives on controversial matters. Breaches can invite Ofsted scrutiny or legal challenges, as seen in prior cases involving curriculum content.

Critics of politically infused training argue it diverts from core educational goals, while proponents see value in contextual awareness. HEP’s review could yield enhanced guidelines, potentially influencing peers nationwide.

What Steps Has HEP Taken to Prevent Future Incidents?

Beyond removal, HEP’s review targets systemic improvements in material curation. This includes scrutinising submission processes for bias, ensuring alignment with impartiality standards, and possibly incorporating diversity audits. Such measures aim to rebuild confidence among stakeholders.

HEP’s reaffirmation of safeguarding duties signals a proactive stance, prioritising educator wellbeing alongside legal adherence. Observers await details on implementation timelines.

What Are the Implications for Jewish and Israeli Staff in Schools?

For Jewish and Israeli educators, the slide represented more than discomfort – it evoked fears of indirect targeting in ostensibly safe spaces. UKLFI’s advocacy underscores vulnerabilities in diverse workforces, where geopolitical sensitivities intersect with daily duties. HEP’s response mitigates immediate risks but highlights the need for ongoing vigilance.

This incident may spur schools to audit their own training, fostering environments where all staff feel secure irrespective of background.

Could This Lead to Wider Changes in Teacher Training Standards?

HEP’s actions might catalyse sector-wide reflection. Educational bodies could adopt stricter pre-approval checklists, mandatory impartiality training for facilitators, or partnerships with impartiality watchdogs. In North London’s multicultural landscape, such evolutions are crucial for equity.

Ultimately, this episode exemplifies responsive governance, turning complaint into constructive reform. As North London’s schools navigate complex times, HEP’s precedent offers a roadmap for balance.