BBC News
· collected 2026-08-11 · by Judith Moritz, Daniel Wittenberg
- Published
Headteachers of some Jewish schools are spending more of their time dealing with security arrangements than on educational matters, a review into antisemitism in schools and colleges has found.
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review → publish → schools
Sir David Bell, speaking for the first time about his ongoing government-commissioned independent review, told the BBC he had been struck by how many leaders of Jewish faith schools had told him security was their main concern - and that "sometimes education takes second place to that".
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education → speak → that
The extent of antisemitism directed at children and young people was "shocking" he said.
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he → direct → children
The report, due ithis autumn, examines experiences of Jewish pupils and staff in faith and secular schools and colleges in England.
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report → examine → England
Sir David said he found that pupils were "subject to regular harassment and abuse".
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pupils → say → harassment
He said Jewish children and young people "are facing a pressure - and indeed one might say even a crisis - that is not the experience of other communities in this country".
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that → say → country
The review is likely to recommend dedicated training for all teachers and improved education about antisemitism for pupils, the BBC has been told.
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BBC → recommend → pupils
The BBC has spoken to several headteachers and staff at Jewish schools.
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BBC → speak → schools
All asked not to be named because of concerns over their security and that of their schools.
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All → ask → schools
One headteacher said: "In recent years [security] has become an overwhelming priority and increased a significant amount.
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security → say → years
There have been weeks where approximately 90% of my time has been spent on security-related matters.
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% → spend → matters
"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."
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that → become → night
Another headteacher, who has led a different Jewish school for 13 years, told the BBC: "I've never spent so much of my time and so much energy dealing with security issues, talking to governors and parents, and above all making daily decisions about how to ensure children in our school are safe."
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children → lead → school
He said it prevented him from "working on educational priorities and on improving our school - instead my focus and time has been spent on security, something that should be a given for every child in this country".
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that → say → country
He has heard evidence from pupils, teachers, governors and parents across both the state and independent sectors as well as community organisations.
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He → hear → sectors
The Bell review has also drawn evidence from a bespoke survey of 5,000 children conducted by the universities, colleges, and admissions service, Ucas.
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review → draw → universities
It found about 20% had experienced or observed antisemitic behaviour in schools and colleges.
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% → find → schools
Sir David said: "When you think about antisemitism, you assume that it's going to be directed towards adults…
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it → say → adults
What's been quite shocking is the extent to which antisemitism is encountered by children and young people."
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antisemitism → encounter → children
'Nazi salutes became quite widespread'
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salutes → become → ?
Recent figures from the Community Security Trust, an organisation which provides security for the Jewish community, showed a spike in antisemitic incidents at schools.
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which → provide → schools
It found in the first half of 2026, antisemitism in schools reached the highest level ever recorded for the first six months of any year.
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antisemitism → find → year
It jumped by 59%, from 112 reported incidents in the first half of 2025, to 178 recorded over the same period in 2026.
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It → jump → 2026
Dr Dave Rich, director of policy at the CST, said the review was timely and hopes "it will lead to practical recommendations that help educational institutions tackle antisemitism effectively."
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institutions → say → antisemitism
Education Secretary Lucy Powell told the BBC the review was a "vital piece of work" and she would "carefully consider the conclusions and recommendations to ensure we do what is necessary to prevent antisemitism in our schools and colleges".
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what → tell → schools
She said in a statement: "Antisemitism has no place in our society, let alone our education system.
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Antisemitism → say → society
Jewish children and staff should never face hatred or prejudice, and every school and college must be equipped to tackle it when it happens."
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it → face → it
One teenager who gave evidence to the Bell review is Jonathan Frisher, from Cheshire.
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who → give → Cheshire
He first experienced antisemitic bullying when he started secondary school in 2020.
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he → experience → 2020
"Having one single lesson about modern-day antisemitism really did help," he said.
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he → have → antisemitism
"Attitudes changed immediately and people did apologise to me.
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people → change → me
I experienced a lot less antisemitism.
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I → experience → antisemitism
If it works in my school, there's no reason that it can't work in every school across the country."
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it → work → country
Sir David said the majority of the 700 people who had responded directly to his "call for evidence" were Jewish parents and pupils at non-faith schools.
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who → say → schools
He said the evidence has led him to realise that many schools do not record antisemitic abuse in part because of a lack of understanding about how to recognise it.
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schools → say → it
When his report is published, he is likely to recommend a standardised approach to reporting and recording antisemitic incidents in schools and colleges.
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he → publish → schools
Jonathan Frisher's own experiences have led him to campaign for antisemitism education to be made compulsory in schools.
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education → lead → schools
A petition he started has gained nearly 40,000 signatures.
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he → start → signatures
He said: "People were telling me that I should be in a gas chamber.
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I → say → chamber
Swastikas were drawn in lots of classrooms and Nazi salutes became quite widespread.
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salutes → draw → classrooms
…and 16 more, not listed.
