Response to Sir David Bell’s Review
Statements from Chair and Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust in response to Sir David Bell's review on tackling antisemitism in schools.
Sir Sajid Javid, Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
“Sir David Bell’s review is a serious piece of work and we welcome it, particularly what it says about Holocaust education and about schools marking Holocaust Memorial Day. Its finding that almost three in five Jewish students have witnessed or experienced antisemitism should shame us all.
Sir David is right that antisemitism must be named and tackled as a specific hatred, not folded into a general commitment to tolerance. The Community Security Trust* recorded 1926 antisemitic incidents in the first half of this year. In 420 of them – more than one in five – the abuse invoked Hitler, the Nazis or the Holocaust, through swastikas and Nazi salutes. To those who abuse Jewish children, the Holocaust is not history. It is their vocabulary.
We strongly welcome the review’s recommendation that all schools and colleges should mark Holocaust Memorial Day. We stand ready to help the Department for Education deliver the review’s recommendations, including new resources on antisemitism as it appears today.
Holocaust Memorial Day is one day, but the work around it runs all year. While we still have survivors able to speak for themselves, there is no time to waste.”
Olivia Marks-Woldman OBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
“Sir David Bell’s review highlights the urgent need for action to tackle antisemitism in our schools. Addressing this requires a sustained and collective effort, with education playing a vital role.
Holocaust Memorial Day brings whole school communities together, creating a shared moment for pupils and staff of all backgrounds to learn about the Holocaust and reflect on the importance of challenging prejudice. It is also a starting point, prompting further learning, conversations and action throughout the year.
The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust provides free resources, including assembly plans, films and educational materials, to help schools mark the day. We stand ready to support all schools in taking forward this recommendation and ensuring that Holocaust Memorial Day becomes an opportunity for young people across the country to learn, remember and stand against antisemitism.”
Data source: * Community Security Trust’s (CST) published report, Antisemitic Incidents:
January–June 2026