by Eleanor Harding, Daily Mail
Ofsted inspectors have launched an emergency inspection of a Bristol school over fears it was ‘intimidated’ into cancelling a visit from a Jewish MP.
The watchdog said inspectors arrived at Bristol Brunel Academy this afternoon following reports Damien Egan was prevented from speaking to pupils.
Earlier this week, the school said it had to postpone the visit for ‘safety’ reasons because pro-Palestinian activists planned to hold protests outside the school.
The activists objected to Mr Egan, who is MP for Bristol North East, being vice-chairman of the Labour Friends of Israel parliamentary group.
After the cancellation, the local branch of the National Education Union (NEU) claimed victory, saying its members at the school had ‘raised concerns’.
It comes a day after the Daily Mail revealed the NEU is investigating antisemitism claims within its ranks following complaints.
Announcing the emergency inspection, Ofsted chief 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.’