A team reviewing race relations policy for Children's Secretary Ed Balls held a meeting in a hotel with a member of the National Front.
It is understood an approach was also made to the British National Party, although the BNP denied it had been approached by the review team
The review was set up by Mr Balls to consider whether members of the National Front (NF) and BNP should be banned from becoming teachers to prevent the promotion of racism in schools.
The revelation that these groups were invited to take part in the inquiry is certain to spark outrage.
The NF disclosed on its website it held a meeting with Maurice Smith, the former chief inspector of schools who is leading the inquiry, and an official from the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
NF press officer Tom Linden said the meeting had taken place in a hotel at 8.30am.
'Before the interview started I thanked Mr Smith for the giving the National Front the opportunity to promote its policies and for including the NF in his review,' he said.
'The interview was mainly about the National Front and its policies towards the education of our children.
'I pointed out that the National Front was not a racist party and that to want to promote and safeguard our own people and their culture and heritage was not racist.
'I felt it was also important to point out that a teacher who was a member of the National Front would be as "professional" as any other.
'I gave a comparison of the amount of Muslims working in the NHS and that there was never any suggestion from the government that Muslim doctors and nurses would treat sheiks and Christians any differently so why would NF members.'
Describing the meeting, he added: 'The interview lasted some 50 minutes and was very relaxed it was almost like having a conversation; it was certainly not intimidating in the slightest.'
But his remarks will infuriate campaigners for groups such as the NF and BNP to be barred from teaching.
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, has said that wherever they have a presence, they breed and promote 'intolerance, violence and community fragmentation'.
'No right-minded person wants children, young people and staff in schools exposed to their pernicious agenda of hatred and discrimination' she said.
The BNP denied it had been approached by Mr Smith's review team.
A DCSF spokesman said: 'We are crystal clear that any form of hate-based prejudice or extremism being promoted to young people in schools is absolutely unacceptable.
'The far-right is not, and cannot be part of any solution to community problems – that’s what the vast majority of the British people believe.
'Maurice Smith is independent of Government and how he collects evidence for his review is totally up to him.
'But he understandably wants to talk to a wide range of organisations and individuals that have opinions on the issue.
'One of the areas he is looking at is whether teachers should be allowed to be members of nationalist organisations.
'Whatever people’s opinions on these organisations are, it would be impossible for him to produce a comprehensive report on the issue taking into account all the arguments and information available without talking to all parties concerned.
'Any report that ignored certain views could be seen as unfair and biased. We look forward to receiving his recommendations shortly.'
Daily Mail
