Schools and colleges in England will be required to recognise antisemitism as a distinct category of harm and take explicit action against it following a major review, the BBC understands. It means anti-Jewish hatred would be treated as a specific safeguarding risk rather than being dealt with through existing measures to stop racism and bullying. The government-commissioned review into antisemitism in education is also expected to recommend dedicated training for teachers, more consistent recording and reporting of incidents, and better education about antisemitism and modern-day Jewish life.
The BBC understands it will also call for stronger guidance on political impartiality for teachers. The review, led by former Ofsted chief inspector Sir David Bell, is due to be presented to Parliament on Wednesday. The government is expected to accept all 27 recommendations.
It was launched amid growing concern about antisemitism in the UK, following a series of high-profile incidents including the attack at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester in October 2025, in which two men were killed. Antisemitism towards Jewish children 'shocking', government expert tells BBC Antisemitic incident reports rise by a fifth in first half of 2026 Separate reviews were also commissioned into antisemitism in healthcare and into public order and hate crime laws. The BBC revealed in August that the Bell review had found Jewish schoolchildren were experiencing regular harassment and abuse.
It also found that headteachers of some Jewish schools were spending more of their time dealing with security arrangements than educational matters. Recent figures from the Community Security Trust, an organisation which provides security advice and support to the Jewish community, showed a spike in antisemitic incidents at schools. It found in the first half of 2026 that antisemitism in schools had reached the highest level ever recorded for the first six months of any year.
It jumped by 59%, from 112 reported incidents in the first half of 2025 to 178 recorded over the same period in 2026. The review is also expected to recommend that the government sets up a type of hotline where school leaders can access immediate advice on tackling antisemitism. Bell told the BBC: "This is not just a report for Jewish children in Jewish schools.
This is for all children and young people in all schools and colleges. We know that antisemitism crosses all boundaries." Earlier this month, the BBC was given rare access inside a Jewish school in Hertfordshire, where pupils and staff operate under tight security, amid heightened concerns about antisemitism. Spencer Lewis, the executive headteacher of Yavneh College, said that security was an "innate part" of his role.
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