OFSTED has carried 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, whose constituency includes Staple Hill and Mangotsfield, had been due to visit Bristol Brunel Academy, in Speedwell, in September.
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.
The incident was thrust into the national spotlight when Communities Secretary Steve Reed, speaking at the Jewish Labour Movement conference on January 11, 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.
However, after the incident was recounted by Mr Reed, the row escalated.
At Prime Minister’s Questions on January 14, Conservative MP Lincoln Jopp said Mr Egan had been “prevented from visiting a school in his constituency because he is Jewish”, and asked the Prime Minister “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 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.”
The next day Ofsted announced it was inspecting the school.
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.”
Sir Martyn said Ofsted inspectors had concluded “the threshold for an inspection was met”.
It took place on January 15-16, and Sir Martyn said the school had been open 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.
“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 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: “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 Egan, whose husband is an Israeli national and who is a former pupil of Hanham High School, now the CLF-run Hanham Woods academy, has not commented publicly on the issue.
Labour Friends of Israel states on its website that it “supports a negotiated two-state solution for two peoples; with a safe and secure Israel, alongside a viable and independent Palestinian state”.
The group says it works with Labour parliamentarians to “strengthen relations between Britain and Israel and to promote a vision of coexistence founded on peace and liberal democracy”.