Schools and colleges in England will be expected to take a tougher stance against antisemitism after a report found that three out of five Jewish students said they had been affected. Sir David Bell, the former chief inspector of Ofsted who was commissioned by the government to lead the independent review, said he found many cases of antisemitism going unreported or unchallenged by students and teachers. Bell told Sky News that “a general commitment to tackling racism or prejudice or hate has not properly identified antisemitism as a particular kind of hate”, with the review, to be published on Wednesday, recommending increased awareness and teaching.
The review’s conclusions would require schools and colleges in England to recognise antisemitism as a distinct category of harm and take explicit action against it. The government is expected to accept the review’s 27 recommendations, including provision of resources to tackle antisemitism in schools and dedicated teacher training in antisemitism awareness, including a national hotline where school leaders can quickly get advice on tackling antisemitism. Other recommendations include encouraging schools to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism, as well as strengthening teaching of the Holocaust to ensure that antisemitism is seen as a central theme of the genocide.
Policies on staff behaviour should also make clear that antisemitism is not acceptable, and that all schools and colleges should have “robust” reporting and response procedures. This is for all children and young people in all schools and colleges. We know that antisemitism crosses all boundaries,” Bell told the BBC.
Bell added there needs to be stronger guidance on political impartiality for schools so that students can “debate topical and difficult issues without feeling that teachers are imposing their own views on students”. A survey conducted for the review found that one in five students said they had witnessed antisemitism, and three in five Jewish students had experienced it. However, fewer than half of those surveyed felt it would be addressed if reported.
The review was launched by the government in March, after antisemitic episodes including the attack at Manchester’s Heaton Park synagogue in October last year. The Community Security Trust (CST), which provides security and support to the Jewish community and schools, has published figures showing rising numbers of antisemitic incidents at schools this year. In the first half of 2026 the CST found that reports of antisemitism in schools had reached the highest levels it had ever recorded, from 112 incidents in the first half of 2025 to 178 recorded over the same period in 2026.
A spokesperson from the Board of Deputies of British Jews said: “Treating antisemitism in schools as a safeguarding issue will have the benefit of creating an explicit duty on all schools to address this as they would any other threat to children’s safety, and will strengthen accountability.” Bell’s review will be presented to MPs in parliament on Wednesday.
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