{"id":240928,"date":"2026-01-28T12:41:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T12:41:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=240928"},"modified":"2026-01-28T13:28:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T13:28:29","slug":"no-evidence-of-political-impartiality-at-school-that-postponed-mp-visit-ofsted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/no-evidence-of-political-impartiality-at-school-that-postponed-mp-visit-ofsted\/","title":{"rendered":"‘No evidence’ of political partiality at school that postponed MP visit – Ofsted"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ofsted has found “no evidence” to substantiate concerns about political impartiality at a school that postponed the visit of an MP due to planned pro-Palestine protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labour MP Damien Egan, who is Jewish, planned to visit Bristol Brunel Academy in his Bristol North East constituency in September. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the visit was postponed<\/a> following opposition by local campaigners and school staff who are members of the National Education Union. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The school said the visit was postponed due to safety concerns about a protest planned at the school site on the same day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ofsted then took the unusual step of announcing it had sent inspectors into the school.<\/a> They conducted an ungraded monitoring inspection at the school earlier this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its report, the watchdog said it had been “concerned by reports that a visit from the local MP may have been postponed due to coordinated pressure from staff, and external groups, and, therefore, a potential insufficient observance of the Department for Education\u2019s Political impartiality in schools <\/em>guidance”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But inspectors found “no evidence to substantiate these concerns within the school”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaders and trustees demonstrated “a profound commitment to providing an inclusive learning environment that promotes tolerance and respect for the diversity of modern Britain”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspectors found “no evidence of partisan political views”, the report added, with staff telling inspectors of a “harmonious and religiously tolerant atmosphere”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Diverse and inclusive’ school<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStaff do not shy away from dealing with contentious issues, but do so in a balanced and accurate way, discussing different perspectives and viewpoints. Pupils in turn, respond to such debates with maturity and respect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elsewhere, the report said Bristol Brunel Academy “is a diverse and inclusive community school, where pupils are tolerant and respectful of each other as they learn and socialise together”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In interviews with staff members, Ofsted<\/a> said there was “often deep hurt expressed at the way their school was being portrayed”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And inspectors found “overwhelmingly positive” views about the school through surveys with 135 staff members and 143 parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspectors praised the school in all four categories of personal development and wellbeing, leadership and governance, curriculum and teaching and safeguarding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cabot Learning Federation, which runs the school, said in a statement earlier this month it had already rescheduled Egan\u2019s visit \u201clong before any of the most recent concerns were raised\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cabot Learning Federation has already agreed to an internal review into the decision to postpone the visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schools Week asked Ofsted what evidence was presented to warrant the inspection, but Ofsted declined to comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Egan’s office has been approached for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Inspectors praise ‘diverse and inclusive’ Bristol school after emergency monitoring inspection<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":315335,"featured_media":174132,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"post-theme":[],"class_list":["post-240928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t