'No evidence of bias' at school that delayed MP visit

There is no evidence substantiating concerns of bias at a school after it cancelled a visit from a Jewish MP, a watchdog ruled.

Ofsted inspected Bristol Brunel Academy earlier this month following reports that MP Damien Egan had been prevented from visiting after intervention from pro-Palestinian activists.

It comes after the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) - which runs the school -postponed a visit from Damien Egan in September. The MP for Bristol North East has visited four other schools within the trust.

Ofsted said the school demonstrated a "profound commitment" to provide an inclusive environment that promoted tolerance and respect for diversity.

Earlier this month, the education watchdog said it would inspect the school following reports that Egan had been prevented from visiting.

CLF leaders disputed the claim and said they decided to delay Egan's visit over concerns for student safeguarding amid a planned Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest on the same day.

They said the visit by Egan - who is a member of the Labour Friends of Israel parliamentary group - had been rescheduled by the time the postponement was reported by news outlets.

The initial decision to postpone the visit was criticised by the prime minister and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

Sir Keir Starmer said the move was "very serious, very concerning", and added that all MPs "should be able to visit anywhere in their constituency".

Ofsted said it was concerned the visit "may have been postponed due to coordinated pressure from staff, and external groups", and therefore was potentially in violation of Department for Education (DfE) guidance on political impartiality in schools.

While the specific decision to postpone Egan's visit was "not the subject of the inspection", the report said leaders told inspectors there had been concerns over the safety of children and staff because of a "threatened protest outside the school gates" on the same day.

Inspectors concluded that staff - including those from minority groups - spoke of the "harmonious and religiously tolerant" school atmosphere.

They added that staff were "proud" of the school's inclusivity towards pupils and there was "often deep hurt" relating to the way the school was being portrayed.

Political impartiality was also ensured in the school's curriculum and teaching, inspectors ruled.

Following the inspection, it was recommended that the school continued to keep its approach to political impartiality under review, particularly with visitors and events.

Egan himself has yet to comment publicly.

CLF confirmed earlier this month it was investigating claims Saima Akhtar, its inclusion and diversity coordinator, had shared discriminatory comments on social media.

A spokesperson for the trust previously said all its employees were expected to embody CLF's core values both inside and outside of work.

They added that staff members who breached its code of conduct should expect to face disciplinary action which could result in dismissal.

An external review of its staff training had also been commissioned, they said.

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