The UK government accepted all 27 recommendations in an independent review of antisemitism in schools and colleges in England, setting out training and reporting changes for education providers.
The review, led by Sir David Bell, drew on a survey run through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) that received more than 5,000 responses. Among 92 respondents who identified as Jewish, 59% said they had experienced antisemitism; Bell’s report cautions that the survey does not represent all school and college students.
Across all respondents, 20% said they had encountered antisemitism, either personally or as witnesses: 2% reported direct experience and 18% said they had witnessed it. About half of respondents who encountered incidents said no report was made. Nineteen percent said an incident had been reported; among that group, 27% judged the school or college response ineffective.
Bell’s review points to inconsistent identification and recording, limited staff training and low confidence in reporting systems as obstacles. It says concern about complaints or negative public reaction can also discourage education leaders from discussing sensitive issues. The report ties its findings to a period of high-profile attacks on Jewish communities and says antisemitic incidents stayed at historically high levels after Oct. 7, 2023.
The government’s plan calls for dedicated training for education leaders and designated safeguarding leads, updated safeguarding and political impartiality guidance, and improved incident monitoring. The government will also encourage schools and colleges to use the antisemitism working definition developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). The government’s response distinguishes criticism of Israeli government policy from antisemitism and urges schools to challenge stereotypes, conspiracy claims and collective blame of Jewish people.
The government says the work is intended to protect Jewish pupils, students and staff, while the review says antisemitism can occur even in institutions with few or no Jewish members. Schools, colleges and government bodies will handle implementation, but officials have not specified a total cost. Education Secretary Lucy Powell told Parliament that funding would accompany the work and that resources and training would be available within a year.
Universities were outside Bell’s review. The government has asked Bell to assess how the recommendations are being carried out after one year.
