Ofsted inspectors have launched an emergency inspection of a Bristol school over fears it was ‘intimidated’ into cancelling a visit from a Jewish MP.
The watchdog said inspectors arrived at Bristol Brunel Academy this afternoon following reports Damien Egan was prevented from speaking to pupils.
Earlier this week, the school said it had to postpone the visit for ‘safety’ reasons because pro-Palestinian activists planned to hold protests outside the school.
The activists objected to Mr Egan, who is MP for Bristol North East, being vice-chairman of the Labour Friends of Israel parliamentary group.
After the cancellation, the local branch of the National Education Union (NEU) claimed victory, saying its members at the school had ‘raised concerns’.
It comes a day after the Daily Mail revealed the NEU is investigating antisemitism claims within its ranks following complaints.
Announcing the emergency inspection, Ofsted chief Sir Martyn Oliver said: ‘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.’
Ofsted has launched a probe after Damien Egan (pictured), the Labour MP for Bristol North East, had his talk cancelled by Bristol Brunel Academy in his constituency
After Mr Egan’s planned visit was cancelled in September, the Bristol branch of the National Education Union (NEU) hailed a ‘victory for education workers, parents and the community’
Mr Egan converted to Judaism after meeting his Israeli-born husband Yossi Felberbaum
He said the move came after press reports about the incident, which happened in September.
‘Last weekend, I tasked inspectors to consider the evidence, speak with the school and determine whether further action was needed,’ he said.
‘They have concluded the threshold for an inspection was met and they are at the school today. The school was informed this morning and I am very grateful to them for their openness in engaging with the inspectors.’
The cancellation was highlighted on Sunday by Cabinet minister Steve Reed.
Speaking at a Jewish Labour Movement conference, Mr Reed said a Jewish MP was refused permission to visit a school ‘in case his presence inflames the teachers’.
‘That is an absolute outrage,’ the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary added.
‘They will be called in, and they will be held to account for doing that, because you cannot have people with those kinds of attitudes teaching our children.’
After Mr Egan’s planned visit was cancelled, the Bristol branch of the National Education Union (NEU) hailed a ‘victory for education workers, parents and the community’.
Bristol NEU posted on Facebook: ‘Damian [sic] Egan’s planned school visit at Bristol Brunel Academy this Friday has been cancelled after concerns were raised by the NEU trade union staff group, parents and local constituents.
‘This is a clear message: politicians who openly support Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza are not welcome in our schools.
‘Egan is Vice Chair of Labour Friends of Israel and has visited Israel since the current onslaught on Gaza began, demonstrating his support.
‘We celebrate this cancellation as a win for safeguarding, solidarity, and for the power of the NEU trade union staff group, parents, and campaigners standing together.’
The Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign also posted the same message on its Facebook page.
Mr Egan converted to Judaism after meeting his Israeli-born husband Yossi Felberbaum.
A spokesperson for Bristol Brunel Academy said: ‘Damien Egan MP… in common with other local MPs from across the political spectrum – was invited in September to visit Bristol Brunel Academy, a secondary school situated in his constituency of Bristol North East.
‘Mr Egan was due to discuss democracy and the role of an MP, while helping to raise aspirations among students who may have an interest in pursuing similar career paths.
‘On the evening before Mr Egan’s scheduled visit, we were made aware of plans for a public protest outside the school.
‘As this protest was scheduled to coincide with the end in the school day, we opted to postpone Mr Egan’s visit to ensure everyone would continue to feel safe when entering and exiting school and to prevent any disruption to our students’ learning.
‘We have remained in contact with Mr Egan, and an alternative date for his visit was arranged some time ago.
‘We have also been in contact with the police and followed their advice.’
A spokesperson for the Cabot Learning Federation, which runs the school, said: ‘We take our responsibilities to educate young people about British values extremely seriously, which is why we invited Mr Egan to speak to our students in the first place.
‘Whilst we took the decision to postpone the visit due to concerns about student safety and the disruption to their education from the planned protest, a date for the rescheduled visit had already been confirmed by Mr Egan’s office. This was long before any of the most recent concerns were raised.’
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer said the case was ‘very serious, very concerning’ and added that all MPs ‘should be able to visit anywhere in their constituency, schools or other places, without fear of antisemitism’.
He later added: ‘We will be holding those to account who have prevented this visit to this school.’
Meanwhile, the NEU leadership has distanced itself from the incident.
Speaking on Radion 4 this morning, General Secretary Daniel Kebede said that ‘it’s right that that MP attends that school’ and added: ‘union groups cannot stop visits’.
He also promised not to repeat his call for pro-Palestinians to ‘globalise the intifada’, which he made in 2021 during a protest before he took up the helm.
A spokesman for the NEU said: ‘The NEU is an organisation rooted in anti-racism in all forms, including antisemitism.
‘The National Education Union head office had no knowledge that the school had rescinded the invite to the local MP until it was reported in the press yesterday. Indeed, the school is quoted as saying this was a decision that they took and the visit has been rescheduled.
‘It is good that MPs, especially those in the party of Government, seek to engage with schools, especially on issues such as the dire state of school funding, the intensity of teaching and the impact of social media on young people.
‘It is also legitimate for constituents to express their views to MPs on national and international issues, including the extraordinary human suffering in Gaza. The NEU believes in democratic engagement. Central to that is dialogue and discussion, and sometimes this will include a robust exchange of views.’