Disarm education is a campaign by educators, parents and students to stop the collaboration of places of education with arms companies and weapons manufacturers. We firmly believe that students and young people should not be exposed to the production of war and violence should not be normalised through education.

We have witnessed the proliferation of genocide in Gaza since October 2023. This follows over 78 years of the systematic ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. After 15 months of massacre and bombardment in Gaza, a fragile ceasefire was announced in January 2025. This came after over 60,000 people were killed, 90% of the population has been displaced, and an estimated 60% of all infrastructure has been destroyed. These numbers do not capture the loss and suffering faced by the people of Gaza, nor the steadfastness and resilience demonstrated by Palestinians in the face of such atrocity.

The UK arms industry has directly contributed genocide of Palestinians: 15% of each F35 fighter jet used by Israel is built in the UK through companies such as BAE systems, Leonardo and Martin-Baker. Raytheon and Lockheed Martin develop munitions used to decimate Palestinian life. The UK has licensed the export of arms worth £560 million to Israel since 2008, with the full scale of military production far higher due to the 'open' nature of many export licenses.

The UK arms industry’s contribution to the genocide in Palestine is part of a longer history of involvement in global violence and conflict. Three recent examples illustrate this. First, UK arms companies supplied weapons, equipment, and logistical support to British, U.S., and allied forces throughout the wars in Iraq (2003–2011) and Afghanistan (2001–2021). Second, British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) provided tanks and Hawk jets used by Indonesia in the East Timor genocide (1975-1999). Third, UK arms companies have provided Typhoon/Tornado aircraft, Paveway bombs, and Brimstone/Stormshadow missiles worth billions to the Saudi-led coalition that has killed an estimated 377,000 people in Yemen.

The presence of weapons manufacturers in schools across the UK cannot be underestimated. Companies including BAE systems, Rolls Royce and Lockheed Martin spend millions every year to sponsor school events, fund competitions, do careers roadshows, provide work experience, and fund apprenticeship opportunities for students. BAE invested £100m in education skills, and early careers in 2022 alone. They have visited over 5,000 schools through their STEM roadshow, reaching over 1.3 million pupils. Lockheed Martin has produced a STEM activity pack for British Science week and beyond the curriculum, these companies sponsor at least 39% of University Technical Colleges in England. Many of these companies operate in schools without any parental consent, knowledge or scrutiny. They target students all the way from primary through to the end of their secondary education.  Their involvement in schools has thus far remained largely unchallenged. 

The Call to Action 

Over 30 Palestinian trade unions have called for trade unions in relevant industries to: (1) refuse to build weapons destined for Israel (2) refuse to transport weapons to Israel (3) pass motions to this effect (4) take action against complicit institutions and pressure governments to stop all military trade with Israel. The call is supported by the NEU's sister unions: the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and the Union of Kindergartens Workers. This is a direct call on education workers to end the collaboration of places of education with arms companies and weapons manufacturers. 

Recent years have seen the Palestinian solidarity movement blossom. Student action across the UK has led to successful resistance against the creeping militarisation of our schools. As a direct result of school council walk-outs, in December 2023, Luton Sixth form suspended all ties with Leonardo due to the company’s involvement in the genocide. Previously, the company provided work experience and early careers advice to students. In East London, hundreds of students boycotted an assembly delivered by Wes Streeting MP over the Labour Party’s complicity in the genocide. Up and down the country, we have seen students resist the draconian efforts to censor solidarity with Palestine in places of education by wearing keffiyehs, sporting Palestine badges, and demanding that it is discussed in the curriculum. 

The Demands 

It is the duty of students, educators, and parents everywhere to resist the normalisation of war machinery in our places of work and education. We call on students, teachers and educators across the UK to:

1. Uncover ties between places of education and arms companies. 

2. Establish agreements in places of education to prohibit or end any partnerships with companies producing arms.