A HEADTEACHER has issued a message to parents ahead of a planned school strike for Palestine.

It's understood a number of primary and secondary schools across the Bradford district will be affected. 

One of those is Blakehill Primary School in Idle. 

A message from headteacher Lisa Keighley, seen by the Telegraph & Argus, said: "The local authority are aware of a number of planned protests about the situation in Gaza at both primary and secondary schools on Friday 8 March and that some parents/carers may also want to take their child out of school.

"The protests are scheduled to take place at 2pm.

"We think that there will be a protest outside Blakehill Primary School. 

"Our key message is we respect people's right to protest peacefully and lawfully.

"However, we do not condone parents/carers taking children out of school to do so.

"Schools have a responsibility for the safety of children, parents and staff at the school and ask that anyone protesting respects this."

The message added: "Schools have been provided with information about what to do in the event of a protest by the local authority and Blakehill Primary School will adhere to this guidance if a protest occurs. 

"It is important to note that there have been many protests in the district about Gaza and all of these protests have passed peacefully."

'They're too young'

One woman made the decision to pull her grandchildren out of Wibsey Primary School early on Friday, just before the protest started.

"It's disgusting it should be allowed to happen outside a primary school," said the grandmother.

"They're too young. They could have done this protest on Wibsey high street but they chose to do it outside Wibsey Primary School. I know they're going through a horrendous time but children don't need to see that. 

"Free Palestine, children being killed, children attending primary school do not need to hear that.

"My grandchildren are four, five, six. They don't need to know about war and bombs. I had to pull my children out at half past one, this protest started at two, just so they didn't see it. There was lots of parents pulling their kids out."

At 12.30pm outside Bradford College, a walkout took place outside The David Hockney Building on Great Horton Road.

At 4pm, people will stand in solidarity with the women of Palestine in Bradford’s Centenary Square, due to today being International Women's Day.