A Jewish student at Leeds City College has been reassured by an apparent change of course by academic staff, following an intervention by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).

The student had reported feeling “upset, uncomfortable, and insecure” at the sight of the teacher wearing a Palestine Flag badge while teaching.

UKLFI wrote to Luminate Education Group, which runs Leeds City College, advising officials that wearing political symbols at work is potentially a breach of the Equality Act 2010 (EA), schools standards regulations, and its own Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policy. Leeds City College teaches 16–19-year-olds as well as adult further education courses.

UKLFI explained that a lecturer wearing a Palestine flag badge while teaching promotes a  partisan political views by virtue of the symbol being worn, and had been alienating and intimidating one of her Jewish students. The letter pointed out that wearing a Palestine flag badges  denotes support of the Palestinian cause and conversely opposition to the Jewish state of Israel. Therefore it is inevitable that Jewish or Israeli students would be intimidated when seeing a person in authority wearing this item, apparently authorised by the College, and would consider that it is a hostile act towards themselves.

UKLFI explained that wearing  the Palestine flag or other pro-Palestine paraphernalia or clothing in the learning environment would also be a breach of Section 85 (3) of the Equality Act 2010, as it would harass Jewish and Israeli students and/or staff, in that it would create a hostile and intimidating atmosphere for them.

Leeds City College’s EDI Policy states:

“We will create a culture of mutual respect, tolerance, democracy and individual liberty and challenge all oppressive language and behaviours. We will do this by: ….

• Aspiring to create a safe and harmonious learning and working environment for all, free from physical risks, bullying or harassment”.

The Group CEO of Luminate Education Group, Mr Colin Booth, clarified that Luminate management “take seriously [their] obligations under all relevant legislation, including the Equality Act 2010” and that the Group is “committed to ensuring that the learning environment at Leeds City College remains positive, respectful and inclusive for all”.

Following UKLFI’s letter, the student reported improvements in the atmosphere at the college and that the teacher “ …has no badges and starts the lecture with a speech about following British values, respecting everyone, and never accepting racism”.  She added “I felt comfortable and secure.”

A spokesperson for UKLFI commented:

“We are glad that the student feels reassured by the new, positive and inclusive tone of the teacher and removal of partisan symbols. We encourage Luminate Education Group to introduce and enforce a dress code which fosters respect for all students, if it is not already in place.”