The independent review, commissioned by the Cabot Learning Federation trust after the postponed visit sparked controversy, concluded there was no evidence of antisemitism at Bristol Brunel Academy or the trust. Conducted by retired headteacher Dame Joan McVittie, the investigation determined that the postponement stemmed from a desire to protect the MP from potential abuse and harm, not his religious beliefs or links to Israel. According to McVittie's report, the evidence gathered led her to conclude that the decision was based on protecting the MP from potential abuse and harm, not on his religious beliefs or links to Israel.
The school stated it postponed the visit due to concerns about student safety and disruption from a planned protest. According to the report, the visit was originally planned for 5 September 2026 and was postponed due to a threat of protest. The specific nature of the potential abuse and harm that the school sought to protect Damien Egan from remains unclear, as does whether the planned protest that caused the postponement actually occurred or was called off.
We are living in fractious times, and schools can very quickly be drawn into a political and media storm even when their actions are entirely appropriate and well-intentioned.
Political and community reactions to the postponement were sharply divided. The decision was criticized by the education secretary and the prime minister, according to major media reports. After the visit was halted, the Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign hailed it as a victory for parents, teachers, and the community. The Association of School and College Leaders was pleased with the review's findings, with its general secretary Pepe Di'Iasio stating that schools can quickly be drawn into political storms even when their actions are appropriate and well-intentioned, and that they often face criticism from politicians more interested in point-scoring than facts.
The review findings addressed decision-making processes and external influences. The Cabot Learning Federation denied reports that the postponement was due to concerns about Damien Egan's membership of the Labour Friends of Israel parliamentary group. Damien Egan had already visited four other schools within the Cabot Learning Federation trust prior to the postponed Bristol Brunel Academy event. According to the report, the review found no evidence that the decision to postpone was influenced by internal or external groups.
Too often schools come under fire from politicians and commentators more interested in point-scoring and headline-chasing than establishing the facts.
Ofsted inspected the school in January in response to the postponed visit and found no evidence of political bias. The Department for Education welcomed the review and noted that antisemitic incidents in educational settings have more than doubled since October 2023. A Department for Education spokesperson stated that they welcome the investigation and that while no signs of antisemitic culture were found at this school, the wider increase in incidents demands urgent action.
The review offered several recommendations for future political visits and institutional improvements. It recommended that the Cabot Learning Federation consider additional training on antisemitism and seek to repair its relationship with Damien Egan. The review suggested that checking social media earlier might have alerted the school to potential issues sooner. It also offered recommendations for future political visits to schools, including closer relationships between schools, police, local authorities, and the Department for Education. What additional training on antisemitism the Cabot Learning Federation will implement following the review's recommendation remains to be seen.
Attempts were made to reschedule the visit, with several efforts resulting in a date agreed for 5 December, according to the independent inquiry report. The current status of the relationship between Damien Egan and the Cabot Learning Federation, and whether repair efforts have begun, is unknown. The outcome of the rescheduled visit planned for 5 December, as mentioned in the review, also remains unclear.