England schools to treat antisemitism as distinct safeguarding risk

Schools and colleges in England will have to recognise antisemitism as a distinct safeguarding risk and take explicit action against it, under reforms announced after a government-commissioned review described the scale of antisemitism as “shocking”.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said the government would “update and strengthen” Holocaust education and accepted all 27 recommendations in the review, led by former Ofsted chief inspector Sir David Bell and presented to Parliament on Wednesday. Measures include dedicated teacher training, more consistent recording of incidents and a hotline for school leaders seeking urgent advice. [1]

The change means anti-Jewish hatred is to be treated as a specific risk to pupils’ safety, rather than addressed only through existing approaches to racism and bullying. Powell said the aim was to help young people understand antisemitism in the modern world, calling the work a “generational moment”.

The report followed evidence from pupils, teachers, governors, parents and community organisations in state and independent schools. Bell said its recommendations were intended for all schools and colleges, not only Jewish schools.

The government will encourage schools to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, but will not make it compulsory. The definition is widely used, but some of its examples have prompted controversy.

The National Education Union welcomed a stronger focus on antisemitism but warned against creating a “hierarchy of racism”. It also said adopting the IHRA definition risked blurring the distinction between antisemitism and legitimate criticism of the Israeli government. [1]

The review’s recommendations come amid rising concern about antisemitism in schools. The Community Security Trust reported that incidents in the first half of 2026 were at their highest level recorded for the first six months of any year. [1]