Education Secretary Lucy Powell has said “change will come” on antisemitism in schools and colleges in England as she accepted all of the recommendations in Sir David Bell’s review. Addressing MPs on Wednesday, she told the Commons that all children and teachers should be able to go to school or college “free from fear”, describing tackling antisemitism as a “generational challenge”.
Government accepts all 27 recommendations
The Government has accepted all 27 recommendations in Sir David’s review, including calls for political impartiality guidance for teachers to be strengthened. The report did not call for a ban on teachers and pupils wearing political symbols or flags – such as pro-Palestine badges – in schools and colleges.
The Education Secretary will write to all schools and colleges to ask them to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. The Government-commissioned review found that three in five Jewish pupils said they had experienced or witnessed antisemitism, and around half of respondents who witnessed or experienced incidents said they were not reported.
Measures to tackle antisemitism
The Government will take forward a series of measures, including dedicated antisemitism training and resources for teachers and improved reporting of antisemitic incidents. Ms Powell also promised to strengthen safeguarding guidance to make clear that antisemitism is “a distinct risk” that requires a distinct safeguarding response.
Schools and colleges will be given more support on how to ensure “controversial and sensitive” issues and geopolitical events can be discussed in an informed and impartial way. Sir David, who led the independent review, said pupils should be able to have open discussions on the conflict between Israel and Hamas without experiencing “prejudice or hatred”.
Reaction from unions and Jewish groups
Sir David said he had decided against recommending an outright ban on teachers and pupils wearing political symbols or flags because he believed it was “unworkable” and “untested legally”. He told the Press Association it was “entirely reasonable” for individual schools and colleges to use existing mechanisms – such as codes of conduct – to set out what should be worn.
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott argued that the review’s recommendations on education unions were “not strong enough”. The report acknowledged that some Jewish staff feel “excluded or insufficiently supported” by education unions due to activity relating to the Israel-Palestine conflict, but did not conclude that unions are “inherently antisemitic”.
Karen Newman, vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said the evidence gathered by Sir David Bell was “sobering” and made clear the need for a determined and consistent approach. Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said clear guidance and support for teachers were “essential and welcome”.
