A London primary school has been forced to shut over "escalating threats against staff" after some parents were warned about their children wearing Palestinian flags and making political comments.
Protesters gathered outside Barclay Primary School in Leyton on Thursday claiming Muslim students had been discriminated against and parents had been threatened with being reported to the Government's counter terrorism programme.
The row began when some families were sent letters home after pupils allegedly arrived at a Children in Need day last month wearing Palestinian flags, badges and stickers.
It warned that "inappropriate comments made at school including, extremist or divisive comments" would lead to formal meetings and potentially referrals to the Government's counter terrorism programme, Prevent, or the Hate Crime Team in Waltham Forest.
In a statement the Lion Academy Trust, which runs the school, said the letter had been "deliberately taken out of context" and the building would have to close early for the Christmas break for the safety of staff and students.
"In the light of escalating threats against staff and the school, based on malicious fabrications being broadcast by various media outlets, the Lion Academy Trust will be closing the school from December 20, 2023 to all parents and pupils for the Christmas break," a Trust spokesman said.
"This decision has been made after careful reflection and because we need the school to be a safe place for the children and staff."
Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the school gates on Thursday morning in the latest pro-Palestine protest in London.
Palestinian flags were also attached to lampposts along the road.
Protesters claimed that one eight-year-old pupil, whose mother is from Gaza, had been reprimanded for refusing to remove a Palestinian flag badge from his coat.
The school denied the allegation.The Trust added: "The correspondence issued to eight families (out of a school of 1,325 pupils) has been misappropriated and we believe it has been deliberately taken out of context.
"The letter was specific to alleged misconduct by the parties to whom it was sent. Further, we are bound by our legal duty under Prevent and whilst we have never reported anyone to Prevent at the school, and would not wish to do so, we are seeking to be transparent by making individuals aware of the school’s legal obligations.
"We believe we are acting firmly on the basis of the range of evidence at hand and to suggest otherwise is a distortion of the facts...We will never tolerate bullying or intimidation from any source - and have the full support of the Department for Education, Ofsted and the police in this matter."
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Officers were informed of a protest at a school on Canterbury Road.
"The road was closed at around 08:30hrs and reopened at around 10.20am
"There were no arrests or incidents of note. The protest was peacefully concluded."
A Department for Education spokesman said: "Intimidation of teachers and staff is unacceptable, and we are working with Barclay Primary School to support them.
"During periods of heightened community tensions, we support schools to take steps to ensure they remain calm and supportive learning environments, where all pupils feel safe."
