The National Education Union says adopting the IHRA definition in schools is the “wrong approach” and would have a “chilling” effect, while the Conservatives say the review does not go far enough on unions.
Labour is facing criticism from Britain’s largest teaching union over a review of antisemitism in schools and colleges in England. The National Education Union (NEU) says the Government is taking the “wrong approach” by asking all schools to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. The proposal is one of 27 recommendations in an independent review by Sir David Bell, which Education Secretary Lucy Powell announced on Wednesday that the Government would accept in full. The review found that three in five Jewish pupils have experienced antisemitism.
The union’s objections
NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede, whose union has half a million members, said antisemitism “is on a steep rise and must be tackled”. He argued, however, that the IHRA measure would have a “chilling” effect and “shut down legitimate discussion”.
“The IHRA’s contested framing risks blurring the line between anti-Semitism and legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and the genocide in Gaza,” Mr Kebede said. “Schools must enable young people to confront difficult issues openly and develop empathy, not drive teachers into silence or leave pupils afraid to express their views.”
He warned that children who “cannot critically explore issues” in the classroom risk “seeking their answers in online and unsafe groups”. He also said the recommendations “wrongly call into question the professionalism of teachers”.
The IHRA definition says antisemitism can include “hatred of Jews” and also the “targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity”, unless the criticism is “similar to that levelled against any other country”. It lists 11 examples, some of which relate to Israel.
The NEU also says 65% of teachers reported receiving no anti-racism training of any kind in the past year, according to the research notes. It supports better training on recognising antisemitism but wants it built into wider anti-racism education. The notes say the union has not given the survey methodology for that figure.
The Conservative response
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott called the NEU’s reaction “pathetic”. “To portray the adoption of the IHRA definition as chilling debate on Gaza shows a staggering lack of understanding for the fear Jewish people in this country are living with,” she said.
She said the review did not go far enough in holding teaching unions to account. “The Bell Review is welcome, but unions are being left with a free pass to mark their own homework,” she said. “Without real accountability, nothing will change.” Ms Trott cited NEU members “pressuring” Bristol Brunel Academy last year to cancel a visit by Damien Egan, a Jewish MP and vice chair of Labour Friends of Israel. The school said at the time that the visit was cancelled for safety reasons because of planned protests outside. She said one of those identified as taking part is still in post.
The review says that while unions have made some Jewish members feel their concerns are not taken seriously, they are not “inherently anti-Semitic”. It recommends that unions have “robust policies and processes to tackle anti-Semitism”.
Mr Kebede replied that a separate independent review of the NEU by Karon Monaghan KC this year found no evidence of systemic antisemitism in the union. “The NEU has a zero tolerance on anti-Semitism and all forms of racism,” he said.
What the review recommends
Sir David Bell’s review also recommends writing antisemitism into safeguarding policies, training teachers, and instructing Ofsted to hold schools to account. According to the research notes and parliamentary record:
- Recording: Schools and colleges should record antisemitic incidents as a separate category, and not under broader headings such as bullying or racism. The Government has also committed to strengthening the statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance so that antisemitism is recognised explicitly as a safeguarding concern.
- Political symbols: The review found the issue of badges and symbols was not widespread enough to justify new legal duties, and Ms Powell accepted that. She told Parliament she would not expect teachers to attend school displaying political material. There is no blanket legal ban on pro-Palestinian badges.
- Education: The review calls for better media literacy, including spotting antisemitic conspiracy theories online, and for teaching about Jewish culture, history and identity beyond the Holocaust. Ms Powell said visits to the Manchester Jewish Museum had fallen by about 50% since the Heaton Park synagogue attack. She did not give the period or visitor totals.
- Transport: The Government is working with British Transport Police on safer journeys to and from school for Jewish pupils, with no timetable or budget announced.
Ms Powell’s statement
Ms Powell said children and teachers should be able to go to school or college “free from fear”, and described tackling antisemitism as a “generational challenge”. She warned that it is “normalised and amplified” on social media and that “old tropes” have found “a new life” online. “Implementation is now my priority,” she said. “I will make sure schools and colleges are better equipped to spot, challenge and prevent anti-Semitism wherever it happens.”
The Government has set up a national implementation group of education-sector stakeholders to co-ordinate the recommendations and monitor progress. It has asked Sir David to carry out an independent review of implementation after a year, in 2027. Asked by Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson whether schools would get extra money, Ms Powell said funding would accompany the measures but gave no figure.
Ms Powell also told the Commons that she had ordered an inquiry into how details of the review reached the media before it was submitted to Parliament. No findings have been announced.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews welcomed the review and the commitment to implement it, particularly the IHRA definition and the one-year review. Both it and the NEU say antisemitism in schools must be addressed.
