Antisemitism review settles debate over banning pro-Palestine badges in schools

Antisemitism review settles debate over banning pro-Palestine badges in schools It comes after a rise in antisemitic incidents across schools and colleges - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Schools and colleges should be places where the conflict between Israel and Hamas can be discussed openly, without pupils or teachers facing “prejudice or hatred”, according to the leader of a review into antisemitism in education. The independent review, led by Sir David Bell, is due to be presented to Parliament on Wednesday. The government is poised to accept its 27 recommendations as part of its formal response. Among the report's calls is for schools to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, amid concerns that schools have not marked the occasion on 27 January in recent years. It is expected to urge better materials for teachers to help them handle topical issues – like the conflict in the Middle East – when raised in lessons. The report will also say political impartiality guidance for teachers should be strengthened. Sir David said it was “not good enough” that some teachers and pupils felt conversations on the topic were “too difficult to touch” when they emerged in classrooms across England. When asked how teachers and pupils can discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict in schools and colleges, Sir David said: “I think the concern that I had was that there was some evidence that in some places this was all considered just too difficult to touch. “I don’t think that’s good enough because it seems to me the task of educators, whether it’s the schools or colleges, is to enable students to have those sorts of conversations and discussions, but with doing that without allowing prejudice or hatred or even inadvertently comments to be made that are antisemitic.” The government-commissioned report will not, however, call for an outright ban on teachers and pupils wearing political symbols or flags – like pro-Palestine badges – in schools and colleges. Sir David said he decided against a ban as he believed it was “unworkable” and “untested legally”. But he said that it was “entirely reasonable” for individual schools and colleges to use existing mechanisms – such as codes of conduct for staff and pupils – to set out what should not be worn at school if concerns have been raised. He said: “I think it’s a reminder to schools and colleges [to] think carefully about political impartiality because we don’t want students to feel, however inadvertently, that they are being chilled from expressing their views. “At the same time, we want teachers to be empowered to allow students to express their views but to do that in an open, respectful way that understands that there are different points of view.” The review will also say schools and colleges should recognise antisemitism as a specific safeguarding risk. It will call on the government to set up a hotline where school leaders can access advice on tackling antisemitism. Students, parents and teachers were urged to share their experiences for the government-commissioned review between April and July. The report found that around one in five pupils said they had witnessed antisemitism. Among Jewish pupils who participated in the survey, the figure rose to three in five. Around half of them felt there was not necessarily going to be action taken on the back of an antisemitic incident that they had witnessed, it found. Sir David said: “I think the most important point to make is that we have seen a rise in antisemitic incidents in schools and colleges as we have across wider society. “But perhaps more concerning to me is the extent to which it feels as if antisemitism is under-reported.” The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism in the UK, found there were 178 school-related antisemitic incidents in the first six months of this year. That was an increase of 59 per cent from the 112 incidents reported over the same period last year. The organisation's figures from when the review was announced found there were 204 school-related antisemitic incidents in 2025, double typical levels before 2023. Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, has welcomed plans for more training, resources and support for schools on antisemitism. He said: “School leaders need clear, practical guidance that gives them confidence to navigate complex and sensitive issues while supporting open, respectful discussion in schools.” Mr Whiteman added: “School leaders take their responsibility to create safe and inclusive environments for pupils and staff extremely seriously and support meaningful action to tackle it. “But schools cannot tackle this challenge alone. “Antisemitism is a wider societal problem, and any national response must recognise that schools are one important part of a much broader solution.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments [Image text:] Free Palestine