Ofsted is today inspecting a school that postponed a visit by a Jewish MP that was opposed by pro-Palestinian activists.
Labour MP Damien Egan had been due to visit Bristol Brunel Academy in his Bristol North East constituency in September.
Cabot Learning Federation, which runs the school, says it postponed the visit out of safety concerns, due to a demonstration planned to coincide with the end of the school day.
The trust, which has 17 primaries, 12 secondaries, one all-through school, two alternative provisions and three special schools, has denied reports that the decision was due to concerns from staff and parents about Mr Egan’s role as vice-chairman of the Labour Friends of Israel parliamentary group.
However, the Bristol branch of the NEU teaching union had called the decision “a win for safeguarding, solidarity and for the power of the NEU trade union staff group, parents and campaigners standing together”.
Controversy over MP’s school visit
And the Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign had also hailed the move as a “victory for parents, teachers and the community”.
In a Facebook post, the group said the decision sent “a clear message” that “politicians who openly support Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza are not welcome in our schools”.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer said the situation around the visit was “very serious, very concerning”. He added that all MPs “should be able to visit anywhere in their constituency, schools or other places, without fear of antisemitism”.
He said: “We do take this seriously. We’re providing more funding for security and support we’re putting in across the country, and we will be holding those to account who have prevented this visit to this school.”
The situation had sparked concern after communities secretary Steve Reed described it as “an absolute outrage” during an appearance at the Jewish Labour Movement conference on Sunday.
James McNeillie, Ofsted’s South West regional director, told the trust: “I have decided that a section 8 inspection of the school is necessary due to potential concerns.
“While the current evidence does not suggest pupils are at significant risk of harm, there is considerable public interest in the school’s arrangements, and inspection will provide an independent evaluation for parents and the public.”
Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver said in a statement today: “I was concerned to learn that a school may have been intimidated into cancelling a visit from their local MP.
“I am troubled by the message this sends to children - especially children from the Jewish community. Those of us privileged enough to be working in education have a professional and moral duty to stand against discrimination.”
After considering the evidence, inspectors concluded that an inspection was warranted and were at the school on Thursday, Sir Martyn said.
Speaking on the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast yesterday, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, said: “It certainly wasn’t a position of the national union that this MP shouldn’t attend.
“My understanding of the situation is that there were some concerns raised to the local representative, and there were parents raising concerns over the MP’s attendance, and the school took it upon themselves to postpone that visit, and it has been reinstated.”
When asked if Mr Egan was welcome in a school regardless of his stance on the situation in Gaza, Mr Kebede said: “Absolutely, I think he should be in school and visiting schools and getting a deep understanding of the crisis in funding and the crisis in workload that exists in the education system.”
He added that union groups cannot stop school visits, as it is beyond their power to do so.
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