Snap Ofsted inspection of school after cancelled MP visit

OFSTED is carrying out a snap inspection of a secondary school after a row over the cancellation of a visit by Bristol North East’s MP.

Damien Egan (above) had been due to visit Bristol Brunel Academy in Speedwell in September.

However the visit was called off after members of the National Education Union learned of the invitation and started planning a protest.

In a social media statement, Bristol NEU said union members had planned a protest because of Mr Egan’s position as vice-chair of the Labour Friends of Israel group, which advoctes a strong relationship between the UK and Israel.

They said a visit to Israel by the MP in 2024 demonstrated his support for the “genocidal assault on Gaza”.

The incident was thrust into the national spotlight when Communities Secretary Steve Reed, speaking at the Jewish Labour Movement conference last weekend, said a Jewish MP colleague had been “banned” from visiting a school “in case his presence inflames the teachers”, and described the situation as “an absolute outrage”.

Cabot Learning Federation, which runs Bristol Brunel Academy along with 35 other schools across the region, insists that Mr Egan has not been banned from the school.

It says his visit was postponed to prevent disruption from the protest and has already been rearranged, with Mr Egan’s agreement.

However since the incident was recounted by Mr Reed, the government has become involved, with a Downend Street spokesperson saying on Tuesday that “questions need to be answered”.

At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Conservative MP Lincoln Jopp said Mr Egan “was prevented from visiting a school in his constituency because he is Jewish”, adding: “This is antisemitism and it is happening in plain sight.

“With all due respect to the Prime Minister, I do not want to know how he feels about this; I want to know what he is going to do about it.”

In reply Sir Keir Starmer said the case was “very serious and very concerning”, adding: “All Members of Parliament should be able to visit anywhere in their constituency, schools or other places, without any fear of antisemitism.

“We do take this seriously.

“We are providing more funding for security and support that we are putting in across the country, and we will be holding to account those who prevented that visit to the school.”

Today Ofsted confirmed it is “currently inspecting the Bristol school recently in the news for cancelling a visit from the local MP”.

HM Chief Inspector of Schools 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.

“Last weekend, I tasked inspectors to consider the evidence, speak with the school and determine whether further action was needed.

“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.”

A spokesperson for Cabot Learning Federation said: “Damien Egan MP – as a high-achieving alumnus of the CLF, and 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 throughout, and he agreed a new date for the visit some time ago. We have also been in contact with the police and followed their advice.”

In a social media post to parents, the CLF cited news reports of Mr Reed’s comments and said: “Some of these reports erroneously suggest Mr Egan has been banned from our school; this is not the case. Indeed, an alternative date for Mr Egan’s visit was agreed some time ago.”

The Voice has asked Mr Egan, who attended Hanham High School, now the CLF-run Hanham Woods Academy, and is married to an Israeli national, for a comment.

In a post on the Bristol NEU Facebook page at the time of the cancellation, the school’s decision was described as a “Victory for Education Workers, Parents and the Community”.

The post said: “MP Damian 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.”

Mr Reed’s comments were reported by the Jewish News from a conversation he had with the paper and website’s publisher Justin Cohen in front of an audience at the Jewish Labour Movement conference.

Mr Reed said: “I have a colleague who is Jewish, who has been banned from visiting a school and refused permission to visit a school in his own constituency, in case his presence inflames the teachers. That is an absolute outrage.”

Asked what the response would be Mr Reed said: “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. You just can’t have it.”