Extraordinary Security Needed in Jewish Schools

On 4th March this year, the government launched an independent review into how schools and colleges in England identify, respond to, and prevent antisemitism. Sir David Bell was appointed to lead the review, because of his extensive public sector experience of schools and colleges at the highest level.

Speaking to the BBC recently, Sir David said that many Jewish faith-school leaders had made security their primary concern, with "sometimes education takes second place to that."

Indeed, he was "struck by how many leaders of Jewish faith schools" described security as an overwhelming priority.

One headteacher told the BBC: "In recent years [security] has become an overwhelming priority and increased a significant amount. There have been weeks where approximately 90% of my time has been spent on security-related matters."

Discussing the situation in Jewish faith schools, Sir David described the level of physical security required as "quite extraordinary".

"I don’t think that’s really appreciated that we have this group of children and young people in this country
who are subject not just to those security measures, but also to regular and hostile abuse."

"That is not just abuse from other young people. The students I spoke to in London
were getting quite a bit of abuse from adults as well."