Bristol Brunel Academy cleared of antisemitism after suspending go to from Jewish MP Damien Egan | EUROtoday

An unbiased inquiry right into a Bristol faculty that postponed a go to from its native Jewish MP has concluded that neither the establishment nor the belief overseeing it are antisemitic.

The assessment, which got here after claims of intimidation by pro-Palestine activists, discovered no proof of prejudice at Bristol Brunel Academy or the Cabot Learning Federation.

The controversy arose earlier this 12 months when the academy, run by the Cabot Learning Federation, cancelled a deliberate go to by native MP Damien Egan.

Reports on the time instructed the choice adopted intervention from pro-Palestine activists, prompting faculties watchdog Ofsted to examine the positioning.

Following discussions with the Department for Education, the Cabot Learning Federation commissioned retired headteacher Dame Joan McVittie to conduct an unbiased assessment.

While Dame Joan’s findings cleared each the academy and the belief of antisemitism, she beneficial that the belief take into account further coaching on the problem and actively search to fix its relationship with Mr Egan.

Dame Joan stated within the report: “The evidence I have gathered leads me to conclude that the decision to postpone was based not on the MP’s religious beliefs or links to Israel but on a desire to protect him from potential abuse and harm as a consequence of this.”

Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver stated that he was very involved by the stories on the time and inspected the college in January. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated the go to being stopped was “completely unacceptable”.

The faculty stated on the time that it had taken the choice to postpone the go to, somewhat than cancel it, attributable to “concerns about student safety and the disruption to their education from the planned protest”.

The Ofsted inspection in January discovered no proof of political bias on the faculty.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) was happy to see the assessment’s findings, basic secretary Pepe Di’Iasio stated.

“We are living in fractious times, and schools can very quickly be drawn into a political and media storm even when their actions are entirely appropriate and well-intentioned,” he stated.

“Too often schools come under fire from politicians and commentators more interested in point-scoring and headline-chasing than establishing the facts.”

Mr Di’Iasio urged everybody to “be understanding of the difficult climate schools are operating in”.

Dame Joan’s report stated that the go to was initially deliberate for five September 2026, and was postponed due to a risk of protest.

She added she didn’t discover proof that the choice to postpone was influenced by inside or exterior teams, and that it was based mostly on safeguarding and well being and security grounds.

She added that checking social media within the run-up to the go to might have alerted the college earlier to the potential points.

Several makes an attempt have been made to reorganise the go to, and a date was agreed for five December, the assessment stated. After dialogue round placing further safeguards in place for the go to, it was determined to postpone the go to once more to verify all these may very well be in place.

Mr Egan visited the college on 5 February, and the assessment stated it was profitable.

Some of the workers on the belief have been affected by the Israeli-Palestinian battle, Dame Joan’s assessment stated. There has been “significant training both over time and more recently on political impartiality, rejection of discrimination and expectations of all staff”.

Dame Joan stated Jewish members of workers she met within the belief’s faculties reported they have been handled with respect and understanding of their office, however mirrored that generally polarised views of their neighborhood will be tougher.

No college students at Bristol Brunel Academy establish as Jewish, the assessment stated.

“There may be children in schools in parts of Bristol who are frightened to identify as being Jewish because of tensions in the local community,” it stated.

The DfE may present extra detailed steering to colleges and MPs on how you can handle MP visits, the assessment concluded, which ASCL welcomed.

An unbiased assessment of how faculties and schools establish and forestall antisemitism was introduced by the Government in March.

It shall be led by former DfE everlasting secretary Sir David Bell, and can make last suggestions on how faculties will be higher supported to deal with antisemitism by the autumn.

Community Security Trust figures from when the assessment was introduced discovered there have been 204 school-related antisemitic incidents in 2025, double typical ranges earlier than 2023.

Leora Cruddas, chief govt of the Confederation of School Trusts, stated: “As Dame Joan McVittie’s report makes unequivocally clear, the decision to postpone an MP’s visit was made solely on safeguarding and health and safety grounds for students, staff and the MP.

“The leadership that the school and trust have shown in these circumstances is exemplary. Leaders have acted at all time with integrity, equanimity and transparency. They have modelled the ethic of public service and the principles of public life.”

A DfE spokesperson stated: “We welcome Dame Joan McVittie’s thorough and robust investigation, and while no signs of antisemitic culture were found at this school or trust, the wider picture demands urgent action.

“Since 7 October 2023, antisemitic incidents in educational settings have more than doubled. It’s a national disgrace, and we will not look away from it.

“That is why we have commissioned an independent national review to strengthen how schools and colleges prevent, identify and respond to antisemitism and all forms of hate. Every student and every member of staff has the right to feel safe, respected and included and this Government will make sure they do.”