Jewish school leaders say security duties eclipse teaching responsibilities

The Bell review, commissioned by the Department for Education, reveals that headteachers of Jewish faith schools are spending up to 90% of their working hours on security matters, sidelining academic initiatives. Evidence gathered from pupils, parents, governors and a 5,000-student survey shows that about one-fifth of young people have witnessed or experienced antisemitic conduct in schools and colleges. Data from the Community Security Trust indicates a 59% jump in reported school-based antisemitic incidents in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.

Officials such as Education Secretary Lucy Powell have called the inquiry "vital" and pledged to act on its findings. The forthcoming report is likely to advise compulsory antisemitism education for staff and students and a standardized incident-recording framework. The heightened security climate includes routine searches of staff vehicles and increased police presence following recent attacks on Jewish sites.