Jewish pupils face daily antisemitism in schools, review finds

Jewish pupils in England are facing daily antisemitic abuse, with incidents in schools rising sharply in 2026, a government-commissioned review has found. Headteachers of Jewish schools report spending more time on security than on education, while one in five children surveyed experienced or witnessed antisemitic behaviour.

Sir David Bell, leading the independent review, told the BBC that Jewish children and young people are experiencing a crisis that other communities do not face. The review, due to be published in autumn, has gathered evidence from pupils, teachers, parents and community organisations across state and independent schools.

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Security overshadows education

Headteachers of Jewish schools described security as their primary concern. One told the BBC that in some weeks, 90% of their time was spent on security-related matters. Another, who has led a Jewish school for 13 years, said they had never spent so much time on security, which prevented them from focusing on educational priorities.

“Security concerns can become one of the many things that headteachers carry with them beyond the school day and, quite literally, can be among the things that keep me awake at night.”

Unnamed headteacher, Jewish school

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Teachers at Jewish schools also reported increased security measures. One teacher at a Jewish primary school said their car is searched with an under-car mirror every morning. Security staff patrol inside and outside the school at all times, following arson attacks on Jewish sites and a stabbing in Golders Green earlier this year.

Abuse on the journey to school

Pupils travelling to and from Jewish schools face regular harassment. Sir David Bell said children aged 12 and 13 in one London Jewish faith school told him they were abused on public transport and during their school journey. Teachers reported that school trips had become more hazardous due to the risk of antisemitic incidents.

Jonathan Frisher, a sixth-former from Cheshire, gave evidence to the review. He was the only Jewish student at his school and experienced antisemitic bullying from 2020. He described Nazi salutes in classrooms and comments about gas chambers. Frisher said a single lesson on modern antisemitism led to apologies and reduced abuse.

Review to recommend action

The review is expected to recommend dedicated training for teachers and improved education about antisemitism for pupils. Sir David Bell said many schools do not record antisemitic abuse due to a lack of understanding about how to recognise it. The review may propose a standardised approach to reporting incidents.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said the review was a vital piece of work. In a statement, she said antisemitism has no place in society or the education system. She pledged to carefully consider the recommendations to ensure schools and colleges can tackle antisemitism effectively.

Dr Dave Rich, director of policy at the Community Security Trust, said the review was timely. He hopes it will lead to practical recommendations to help educational institutions address antisemitism.

The review’s findings come after a survey of 5,000 children, conducted by Ucas, found about 20% had experienced or observed antisemitic behaviour in schools and colleges. Sir David Bell said the extent of antisemitism among children and young people was shocking.