Holocaust school lessons to be improved after 'shocking' antisemitism review
The UK government announced plans to update and strengthen Holocaust education and explicitly recognize antisemitism as a distinct category of harm in English schools. The decision follows a commissioned review highlighting a rising crisis of anti-Jewish prejudice among youth.
Why it matters
Directly impacts educational policy and safeguarding standards in British institutions in response to rising societal antisemitism.
By Judith Moritz , Special correspondent and Daniel Wittenberg , senior producer Published 21 October 2026, 15:39 BST Updated 51 minutes ago Education Secretary Lucy Powell says the government will "update and strengthen" Holocaust education within schools after a major review highlighted the "shocking scale" of antisemitism in British society.
Schools and colleges in England will be required to recognise antisemitism as a distinct category of harm and take explicit action against it.
It means anti-Jewish hatred will be treated as a specific safeguarding risk rather than being dealt with through existing measures to stop racism and bullying.
The government has accepted all of the 27 recommendations made in the government-commissioned review including dedicated training for teachers and more consistent recording of incidents.
Schools should recognise antisemitism as distinct form of harm, review says
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