Dinosaurs never existed; viruses are not real; vapour from planes in the sky causes dementia and crystals could cure serious illness – these are just some of the conspiracy theories staff at a school in Manchester allegedly believe.
Universallkidz was set up in October 2020 to ‘de-indoctrinate’ children from ‘the lies’ that they are taught by ‘the system’.
Ladan Ratcliffe, who worked as a teacher in Greater Manchester for more than 20 years, got the idea during an anti-lockdown rally.
Her team – made up of other former teachers and even a cryptocurrency trader – are now teaching pupils, aged between eight and 14, about homeopathy and moon cycles.
An undercover investigation by The Times shows what Universallkidz considers curriculum.
Classes were held in a tumble-down Victorian mansion, which had until recently been a nightclub.
In the hallway, leaflets were left lying around that stated that Covid-19 vaccines, climate science and 5G were …