Swastikas discovered on walls of Hendon School during visit of Jewish students

Jewish students visiting Hendon School as part of the Alan Senitt Upstanders Leadership Programme were confronted with a number of swastikas graffitied on the walls of the drama studio they were meeting in.

Jewish News understands that pupils from Jewish schools including Immanuel College in Bushey entered the mixed secondary school at around 09:00 on Tuesday 28 April, for sessions due to run until early afternoon.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a parent of one of the students claimed that during the first session, “the Alan Senitt leaders suddenly asked them all to move away from one side of the room, and when they looked to understand why, they all noticed that there were around 10 swastikas graffitied along the wall.”

They added that when the school was approached, its authorities maintained that the drama studio was let out externally over the weekend and was then out of bounds to its own students on the Monday.”

Other participating schools in the track are believed to include King Solomon High School and JCoSS.

A note sent to parents of pupils at Immanuel College, seen by Jewish News, said: “You may have been made aware that in the final programme, some antisemitic and racist graffiti was noticed by our students on the back of the Hendon School hall where we were based for the day.

“This was reported to the ASULP staff, who in turn reported it to the school, who took prompt action to paint over the graffiti, and their Headteacher addressed the students about the importance of the ASULP to combat the “views that we all find abhorrent.” This was a minor, albeit unpleasant, incident that was not reflective of our wider experience we have had in working with Hendon School students, and indeed our visit there.”

Rabbi Golker, deputy head, Immanuel College said: “We are incredibly proud of our students’ resilience and the dignity with which they represented Immanuel College. While the discovery of such graffiti was deeply troubling, it is to their great credit that they remained focused on the true purpose of the programme: building understanding and forming meaningful connections with peers from a diverse range of schools.

“We are also grateful to Hendon School for their swift response. The prompt action taken, together with the Headteacher’s clear and unequivocal message, demonstrated a shared commitment to challenging prejudice and upholding the values that underpin initiatives like this.

“Our students conducted themselves with maturity, and quiet confidence throughout. Their response reflects their character and highlights the importance of programmes such as the Alan Senitt initiative, and the vital role Jewish schools like Immanuel College play in promoting dialogue, mutual respect, and moral leadership at this time.”

CST said it is “aware of antisemitic graffiti discovered at a school in Hendon while Jewish students were visiting as part of the Alan Senitt programme. Antisemitism has no place in any school, which should be a place of safety, learning and trust for all pupils. We welcome the swift action taken to remove the graffiti and expect this incident to be investigated seriously.”

A spokesperson from the Alan Senitt Memorial Trust told Jewish News: “Our programme is geared specifically towards educating and equipping the next generation of leaders. The response from our cohort was exactly as we thought it would be; calm and focused. We thank the schools and CST for their quick response”.

A spokesperson from Maccabi GB said: “The Alan Senitt Upstanders Leadership Programme, delivered on behalf of the Alan Senitt Trust by Maccabi GB’s Streetwise and Stand Up! projects, brings together Year 10 students from Jewish and mainstream London schools to challenge discrimination, including antisemitism, and become upstanders in their communities.

“Inspired by the legacy of Alan Senitt, the programme develops young leaders through training, seminars and school-based projects, equipping them with the confidence and skills to tackle prejudice, promote social cohesion and drive positive change.

“At yesterday’s seminar at Hendon School – a school that has been part of ASULP for many years and has welcomed our education programmes on contemporary antisemitism and discrimination – students reported pre-existing racist and antisemitic graffiti on the back wall of the hall. The ASULP staff and school’s leadership acted quickly to remove it and address the cohort, providing reassurance.

“Through Streetwise and Stand Up! Education Against Discrimination, ASULP forms part of wider educational work reaching tens of thousands of young people in Jewish and mainstream schools each year, tackling antisemitism head-on and empowering students to stand against hatred in their schools and communities.”

JCoSS told Jewish News that it has “a strong and positive relationship with Hendon school which goes beyond their shared participation in the Alan Sennit program. Hendon School sent a delegation of students to JCoSS on Yom HaShoah who spent the day participating in a joint programme. Hendon have also sent teachers on the Stand With Us and Yad Vashem programmes in Israel this year. We are deeply committed to an ongoing programme to foster commitment to mutual understanding and cooperation.

“JCoSS staff who were at the school yesterday were deeply impressed and reassured by the prompt and serious response from the Headteacher who spoke to the students and staff involved immediately and reassured them of the seriousness of their concern.

“Given that the school is hired out at weekends and therefore it is not clear what the source of the vandalism was, they have committed to undertake a full investigation. The entire episode serves to underline the importance of education and ongoing communication in order to eradicate hate in future generations.”

Jewish News has contacted Hendon School and King Solomon High School for comment.