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<p>It is deeply concerning to see the huge rise in antisemitism following Hamas’s
terrorist attacks in Israel on 7 October 2023. To see this form of hatred also take
place in education is unacceptable.</p><p>The government took immediate action in
October 2023. First, to increase security measures at Jewish schools, colleges and
nurseries - we announced £3 million of additional funding to the Community Security
Trust.</p><p>The Secretary of State also wrote to all schools and colleges on 17 October
2023, urging them to support Jewish students and highlighting our political impartiality
guidance and advice on the Prevent programme.</p><p>To support schools and colleges
we published learning resources on our Educate Against Hate website.</p><p>We are
also providing over £3 million of funding, between 10 August 2021 and 31 March 2024,
to five anti-bullying organisations, which includes projects to tackle hate-related
bullying on the basis of race and faith.</p><p> </p><p>The department has networks
of ‘Prevent’ practitioners who provide training to school staff on radicalisation
and empower teachers to challenge extremism in the classroom.</p><p>We continue to
monitor the situation carefully. Ministers have conducted several visits recently
to listen to the experience of Jewish communities, including meeting with Dr David
Landau who is Chair of Governors Menorah High School, one of the settings that temporarily
closed in October over safety concerns.</p><p>We are engaging regularly with faith
groups and school leadership organisations to understand their concerns and use it
to shape our response. This includes the Board of Jewish Deputies and Chinuch UK.</p><p>In
the Autumn Statement, on 22 November 2023, the government announced a further £7 million
of funding over the next three years to help tackle antisemitism. This will help support
schools, colleges, and universities to understand, recognise and deal with antisemitism
effectively. We are preparing to issue an invitation for interested organisations
to tender in the coming weeks.</p><p> </p><p>If anyone feels that specific issues
in education are not being addressed, they can raise them directly to the department
through the Counter Extremism helpline or our “Report Extremism” online form. We then
engage with the police and local authorities to consider what action is needed.</p>
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