Ofsted has concluded there was no evidence of political bias at Bristol Brunel Academy, despite the school cancelling a planned visit by a Jewish Labour MP after threats of protests from staff and activists.
Inspectors found the academy had “a deep understanding of fundamental British values”.
Damien Egan, the vice-chairman of Labour Friends of Israel, had been due to visit the school in his constituency.
The visit was called off after it emerged that the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the National Education Union were planning demonstrations, with members of staff threatening to to wear keffiyehs on the day.
Ofsted launched the inspection after becoming “concerned” the school may not be complying with Department for Education guidance on political impartiality.
Michaela Wilde, the NEU branch secretary for Cabot Learning Federation – which runs the school – coordinated efforts to block the visit.
A pastoral support worker at City Academy, another school within the trust, praised the union’s actions online.
“Don’t mess with NEU in CLF, we are not here to play,” she wrote on social media, adding that union representatives across the federation were “very proud of this”.
Ofsted has concluded there was no evidence of political bias at Bristol Brunel Academy
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GOOGLEThe inspection took place on January 15 and 16, but Ofsted stressed that the “specific decision to postpone the MP’s visit was not the subject of the inspection”.
At the request of the Department for Education, the trust has agreed to commission an independent review into the cancellation.
Inspectors interviewed more than 130 pupils and around 75 staff during their visit.
They concluded that school leaders and trustees demonstrated “a profound commitment to providing an inclusive learning environment that promotes tolerance and respect for the diversity of modern Britain”.
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Jewish Labour MP Damien Egan had a planned visit to Bristol Brunel Academy cancelled in September | GETTY
Lead inspector Helen Matthews wrote that “inspectors found no evidence to substantiate these concerns within the school”.
The report said political impartiality was upheld across teaching and the curriculum, with swift action taken when expectations were not met.
It also noted that none of the staff interviewed said they were aware of any planned staff-led protest against the MP’s visit.
Ms Matthews recommended that leaders apply any relevant findings from the forthcoming independent review as part of ongoing improvements.
Saima Akhtar, the trust’s inclusion and diversity coordinator, described Hamas as ‘heroes fighting for justice’
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GETTYEarlier this month, The Times revealed that Saima Akhtar, the trust’s inclusion and diversity coordinator and a member of the school council, had described Hamas terrorists responsible for the October 7 attacks as “heroes fighting for justice”.
Following the attacks – which killed more than 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 taken hostage – Ms Akhtar urged people to ignore “media attempts to paint Israel as a victim”.
The trust said it had launched a full investigation and commissioned an external review of staff training on discrimination.
Ofsted noted that staff from minority backgrounds described a “harmonious and religiously tolerant atmosphere” at the school.
Bristol Brunel Academy said the findings showed it was a “school with fundamental British values at its heart and a deep commitment to inclusivity”.
