Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has apologised to a headteacher after unintentionally leading pupils in the viral “6-7” dance during a visit to Welland Academy in Peterborough.
Starmer, who was at the school with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to promote the expansion of free school meals, was reading with children when one pointed out they were on pages six and seven.
In response, the prime minister instinctively performed the well-known juggling hand gesture associated with the “6-7” meme sending the classroom into laughter.
A teacher quickly informed him the dance was banned in the school. “You know children get into trouble for saying that in our school,” she said. “We are not over that yet — the 6-7, it’s still very much a thing.”
Realising the slip, Starmer apologised to headteacher Jo Anderson as he left the classroom. “I didn’t start it, Miss,” he insisted, adding that the moment had been “a bit wild”. He later posted the clip on Instagram with the caption: “I think I just got myself put in detention…”
The “6-7” phrase and dance, hugely popular among Generation Alpha, exploded into a nationwide craze and was named Dictionary.com’s 2025 Word of the Year.
The trend is believed to have originated from the song Doot Doot (67) by US rapper Skrilla, which went viral on TikTok.
Its meaning remains ambiguous, though some interpret it as meaning “so-so” or “maybe this, maybe that”.
Despite the confusion, its grip on classrooms has left many teachers including those at Welland Academy exasperated.
