West Herts College has confirmed that its staff should not wear political symbols at work and has said that it will remind staff of the policy at the start of the new academic year, following concerns raised by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).

UKLFI wrote to the Principal of the College after receiving reports that a number of staff at its Watford and Hemel Hempstead sites had been wearing pro-Palestinian badges and lanyards while at work. These were said to include “Free Palestine” badges, watermelon imagery and a lanyard depicting the outline of Israel in watermelon colours.

West Herts is a College of Further Education which offers vocational courses, A Levels, apprenticeships, and higher education programs for school leavers and adults across campuses in Watford and Hemel Hempstead and Luton. It is owned by the WHC group, which also owns Barnfield College.

UKLFI expressed concern that prominent political campaigning symbols worn by teachers and other staff could make Jewish, Israeli or Zionist students feel uncomfortable or uncertain whether they would be treated impartially. It pointed out that many students at further education colleges are aged 16 or 17 and that staff occupy positions of authority and trust.

UKLFI also drew the College’s attention to its obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty, and asked it to confirm its policy and require staff to refrain from displaying partisan political campaign material where this could compromise professional neutrality or the welfare and equal treatment of students.
In its response dated 14 August, West Herts College said that it took seriously its responsibility to maintain “an inclusive, respectful and professionally neutral learning environment”.

The College confirmed that its policy is that staff should not wear political symbols at work, whether connected with the Israel-Palestine conflict or with politics generally, and said staff would be reminded of the policy at the beginning of the next academic year.

It added that its policy would not necessarily prevent staff from wearing badges depicting national or regional flags, which it would not automatically regard as political symbols. However, it made clear that any badge or symbol which “calls for, or suggests / implies support of, the eradication of Israel” would breach the policy and that the College would take action to ensure it was no longer worn.

The College said that, apart from UKLFI’s letter, it had not received complaints concerning the individuals specifically identified by UKLFI and had not itself observed staff wearing political symbols on its sites. It encouraged staff, students and other stakeholders who had concerns to report them directly to the College.

A spokesperson for UKLFI, said: “We welcome West Herts College’s clear confirmation that staff should not wear political symbols at work and, in particular, that symbols suggesting support for the eradication of Israel would breach its policy.

“Students should be able to attend college without being confronted by political campaigning from members of staff who are responsible for teaching or supporting them. We hope the reminder at the start of the new academic year will ensure that the College’s policy is properly understood and applied across all of its sites.”