Sir Keir Starmer has issued a grovelling apology to a headteacher after performing a banned TikTok dance alongside schoolchildren during a school visit.
The Prime Minister made the blunder while visiting Welland Academy in Peterborough with the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson.
The pair were touring the school on Monday to promote the expansion of the Government’s free school meals programme.
While joining a class for a reading session with pupils, a little girl sat next to Sir Keir told him they were reading page 6-7.
Eager to jump on a viral trend, the Prime Minister excitedly declared “six-seven” as both then performed the infamous dance.
The “six-seven” dance consists of repeating the phrase while performing an up-and-down gesture with both hands.
Originating from a drill song by the rap artist Skrilla, the viral sensation has captured the attention of Generation Alpha, those born after 2010, despite having no real meaning.
After sharing the gesture with the pupil, he repeated the phrase and invited “everybody” to join in.
Sir Keir Starmer performed the ‘six seven’ meme while visiting a school
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Instagram: Keir Starmer
In the video, the entire classroom erupted into a chorus of laughter and recitals of “six-seven”.
The Prime Minister then turned to Mrs Phillipson, appearing to ask his Education Secretary: “Are you doing page six-seven?”
The infamous dance has proved so disruptive in classrooms, often setting off a chain reaction of mischief whenever the number is mentioned, which has led to blanket bans on the viral meme.
As Sir Keir left the classroom, he was reminded of this reality during a dressing down by headteacher Jo Anderson.
Starmer put his head in his hands and apologised after being told off for the stunt
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Instagram: Keir Starmer
“You know, children get in trouble for saying that in our school,” she said.
A sheepish Sir Kier then put his head in his hands and apologised to the headteacher.
“I didn’t start it, Miss,” he added jokingly.
The earlier chaotic scenes and moments of quiet contrition were captured in a video shared across the Prime Minister’s social media accounts.
Accompanying the video was the caption: “I think I got myself put in detention…”
The Prime Minister’s visit followed the announcement of plans for the Free School Meal (FSM) programme to cover all children in households receiving Universal Credit.
The change, set to take effect from September 2026, forms part of Labour’s “Best Start in Life” agenda.
According to Government estimates, the expansion could lift 100,000 children out of poverty and save eligible parents approximately £500 per year per child.