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Education Secretary Lucy Powell has announced that the government plans to enhance Holocaust education in schools following a comprehensive review that revealed the extensive extent of antisemitism in British society. This move will require schools and colleges in England to formally recognise antisemitism as a unique form of harm and implement specific measures to address it. Consequently, anti-Jewish hatred will be treated as a distinct safeguarding concern, separate from the current protocols used to combat racism and bullying.
The government has accepted all 27 recommendations from the review, which include introducing specialised training for teachers and improving the consistency of recording antisemitic incidents. This review, led by former Ofsted chief inspector Sir David Bell, was presented to Parliament and highlights the urgency of addressing antisemitism education among young people. Powell described the issue as a “generational moment” to re-educate young people, emphasizing that antisemitism has become particularly pervasive among students. She stated, “It’s definitely a crisis and I think it’s actually got worse since Sir David began this review. This has become a real challenge for Jewish people in our country, but also Jewish students and Jewish teachers working in our schools and colleges.”
Regarding Holocaust education, Powell indicated that future lessons would aim to challenge some of the misconceptions held by young people. The review additionally calls for more robust guidance to ensure political impartiality among teachers. Powell advised the House of Commons that while educators should avoid injecting their personal political beliefs into the classroom, they must not shy away from discussing significant topics. The review was initiated after several notable incidents, including the fatal attack at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester in October 2025. Complementary reviews have been launched into antisemitism within healthcare and the effectiveness of public order and hate crime laws.
Sir David Bell, now the vice-chancellor of the University of Sunderland, gathered evidence from a wide range of sources, including pupils, teachers, governors, parents from both state and independent schools, and community organisations. He explained the broad relevance of the report, stating, “This is not just a report for Jewish children in Jewish schools. This is for all children and young people in all schools and colleges. We know that antisemitism crosses all boundaries.” Reports have shown that Jewish schoolchildren often face regular harassment, and that some Jewish school leaders spend more time on security matters than educational issues. In response, the review recommends establishing a hotline to provide school leaders with immediate advice on addressing antisemitism.
The government also plans to encourage schools to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, though it will not be mandatory. This definition, accepted by 47 countries including the UK and embraced by most British universities, has the backing of mainstream Jewish organisations. However, some examples within the IHRA definition have sparked controversy. The Board of Deputies of British Jews said adopting the IHRA definition will equip schools with a valuable tool “to deepen understanding of contemporary antisemitism.” A spokesperson commented, “Treating antisemitism in schools as a safeguarding issue will have the benefit of creating an explicit duty on all schools to address this as they would any other threat to children’s safety, and will strengthen accountability.”
While there is wide agreement on the need to tackle antisemitism more effectively, some voices have expressed concerns over aspects of the proposals. The National Education Union cautioned against creating a “hierarchy of racism” and warned that adopting the IHRA definition might “blur the line between antisemitism and legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and the genocide in Gaza.” Nevertheless, the union welcomed the government’s stronger focus on antisemitism, emphasizing that “no form of racism should be minimised.” Meanwhile, leaders from the Jewish community, including Rabbis Charley Baginsky and Josh Levy, highlighted failures in how schools currently address antisemitism and urged for education that also celebrates Jewish culture and heritage. Dan Green, Chief Executive of the Anne Frank Trust UK, affirmed the findings of the review, noting that antisemitism in classrooms is “real,” “widespread,” and often goes unnoticed and unchallenged, urging for more than just symbolic educational efforts.
Recent data from the Community Security Trust indicates a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents within schools. The organisation’s statistics reveal that the first half of 2026 witnessed the highest number of recorded antisemitic episodes in educational settings for any six-month period on record, underscoring the urgent need for the government’s proposed measures
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