Review of Antisemitism in English Schools to Mandate Recognition of Harm and Action

According to the BBC UK, schools and colleges in England will be required to acknowledge antisemitism as a distinct form of harm and implement specific measures to counter it following a major review. This means that anti-Jewish hatred would be addressed as a particular safeguarding risk, rather than being managed through existing protocols for bullying and racism.

The review, which was led by former Ofsted chief inspector Sir David Bell, is scheduled to be presented to Parliament on Wednesday, and the government is anticipated to accept all 27 of its recommendations. The review is also expected to suggest dedicated training for educators, more consistent documentation and reporting of incidents, and enhanced education regarding modern Jewish life and antisemitism. Furthermore, the review is expected to recommend that the government establish a type of hotline to provide school leaders with immediate guidance on addressing antisemitism.

Recent data from the Community Security Trust, an organization that offers security advice and support to the Jewish community, indicated a rise in antisemitic incidents at schools. The Trust reported that in the first half of 2026, antisemitism in schools reached its highest level ever recorded for the first six months of any year, increasing by 59% from 112 reported incidents in the first half of 2025 to 178 recorded during the same period in 2026.

In addition to the required actions, the review is also anticipated to recommend that the government encourage schools to adopt the working definition of antisemitism put forth by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), although this adoption cannot be made mandatory. The Board of Deputies of British Jews stated that adopting the IHRA definition would equip schools with a means to deepen their comprehension of contemporary antisemitism.

Sir David Bell informed the BBC that the scope of the report extends beyond Jewish children in Jewish schools, stating that it is relevant for all children and young people across all schools and colleges, noting that antisemitism transcends all boundaries.

Evidence gathered by Bell, which included input from parents, governors, teachers, and pupils across both state and independent schools, as well as from community organizations, revealed that Jewish schoolchildren were experiencing regular harassment and abuse. The review also found that headteachers at some Jewish schools were dedicating more of their time to managing security arrangements than to educational matters.

In response to the recommendations, the government is also expected to promote the adoption of the IHRA's working definition of antisemitism by schools, though this cannot be compulsory. The definition is supported by 47 countries, including the UK, and has been adopted by most British universities. However, some of the examples of antisemitic behavior within the IHRA definition have generated controversy.

A spokesperson for a group stated that treating antisemitism in schools as a safeguarding issue would create an explicit obligation for all schools to address it, similar to any other threat to children's safety, thereby strengthening accountability. This spokesperson added that these measures should be accompanied by steps to improve education about Jewish life and ensure schools uphold their duties regarding political impartiality.

The Department for Education has declined to comment prior to the publication of the review.