An independent review into antisemitism in schools and colleges is expected to recommend that the issue be explicitly included in safeguarding and online safety policies. The findings of the review, led by Sir David Bell, are due to be published today (Wednesday, October 21).
The review was commissioned by the Department for Education in March this year. Students, parents and teachers were urged to share their experiences between April and July.
Review Background and Findings
In August, Sir David said Jewish schoolchildren face 'regular and hostile abuse' from both young people and adults. He added that some leaders of Jewish faith schools had named security as their primary concern and said 'sometimes education takes second place to that.'
The review's recommendations reportedly include encouraging schools to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, and ensuring teachers receive antisemitism awareness training.
Expected Recommendations
It is also expected to recommend schools explicitly identify antisemitism as a particular kind of hate and include it in safeguarding policies, rather than under a general commitment to tackling racism or prejudice.
According to a leak seen by Sky News, the review will recommend schools include antisemitism in their online safety and safeguarding policies and strengthen the approach to Holocaust education. There will also be recommendations on educating young people on contemporary antisemitism, including developing media literacy lessons to aid in recognising and confronting online antisemitism and conspiracy theories.
Government Response and Incident Data
Furthermore, there will be recommendations on strengthening guidance for schools on political impartiality, particularly with regard to geopolitical issues and guidance that state schools should consider the appropriateness of political expressions or identifiers. The Government is expected to respond formally to the review on Wednesday.
The Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism in the UK, found there were 178 school-related antisemitic incidents in the first six months of this year, an increase of 59% from the 112 incidents reported over the same period last year. The organisation's figures from when the review was announced found there were 204 school-related antisemitic incidents in 2025, double typical levels before 2023.
