CST called into top London boys’ school after pupil filmed yelling ‘free Palestine, f*** Israel’

One of London’s most prestigious private schools, University College School in Hampstead, has called in an outside organisation run by Maccabi GB and CST after one of its pupils was filmed making obscene gestures and declaring “free Palestine, f*** Israel”.

A video of the pupil was widely circulated online. It was claimed by other students that he took part in at least two other incidents, in which he made offensive references to Jews.

Three weeks ago UCS launched an investigation, telling Jewish News at the time that “we are determined that the school should be a safe space for everyone, where all members of the community are treated with the same kindness and respect.Intolerance has no place at UCS and runs counter to the school’s values”.

It is understood that after its inquiry, the teenage student was given a three-day suspension and has since returned to school — though UCS would not confirm this directly.

Instead, in a statement, the school said it was operating under its own Behaviour and Discipline Policy, adding: “Ultimately, the school makes judgments that seek to balance the welfare of both individuals and the community; outcomes of major disciplinary and pastoral matters therefore often combine a mix of sanction, education and community service.”

Now UCS has called in Stand Up!Education, a government-funded interfaith programme in which educators from both Jewish and Muslim backgrounds work with school students aged 11-18, talking to them about discrimination, racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia. UCS says the programme’s staffers will visit the school “and further educate our young people about tolerance and responsibility”.

The school is now also working with another Maccabi GB and CST charity, Streetwise, whose team “has spoken to some of our pupils over recent weeks”.

UCS added: “We are continuously seeking to enhance a sense of tolerance and understanding in all our pupils…Please rest assured that we continue to work hard to ensure, especially in these darkened times, that the pupil body is able to grow and learn together to develop not only a stronger school community, but a cohort of young people who will bring measured and empathetic perspectives to the adult world they will shortly be joining”.

UCS, which has a high number of Jewish students, charges fees of around £25,000 a year.