Review urges schools to treat antisemitism as safeguarding issue

A government-commissioned review led by Sir David Bell is expected to recommend that schools in England treat antisemitism as a distinct safeguarding concern and strengthen measures to address it. The review is due to be presented to Parliament on Wednesday, October 21, with the government expected to respond the same day. The recommendations, reported ahead of publication, are expected to call for explicit references to antisemitism in schools’ safeguarding and online safety policies, alongside teacher training, improved recording of incidents and stronger education about antisemitism and contemporary Jewish life. The review is expected to set out 27 recommendations, which the government was reported to be prepared to accept in full. Its formal response had not yet been provided in the supplied reporting. Bell said the review found that a general commitment to tackling racism, prejudice or hate had not adequately identified antisemitism as a distinct form of harm. Its survey found that one in five pupils had witnessed antisemitism and three in five Jewish pupils had experienced it. Fewer than half of those surveyed thought antisemitism would be addressed if reported,...