LFI honorary chair Mark Sewards hosted a parliamentary event for 38 secondary school headteachers and heads of innovation from Jewish, Muslim and Arab schools across Israel as part of an ongoing UK–Israel education exchange focused on practical, classroom-led innovation.
The delegation was led by Dr Sharon Greenberg, deputy chief executive for research and development and professional development at ORT Israel, the Israeli subsidiary of World ORT, a global education network driven by Jewish values which promotes education and training in communities worldwide. The meeting was also organised by Nivi Feldman, who leads the UK’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
The delegation focused primarily on innovation in education, exploring how AI can be used alongside teachers to reduce teaching workloads and better address students’ specific educational needs.
There was also a focus on how Israeli schools cater to students with special educational needs (SEN) and on how schools can better promote tolerance and multiculturalism and support those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Commenting on the delegation, the Labour MP for Leeds South West and Morley told Jewish News: “At a time of increasing division, bringing communities together, both within and between countries, matters more than ever. Exchanges like this help us learn from one another while strengthening our commitment to cohesion, tolerance and opportunity here in the UK.”
Additionally, LFI’s honorary chair highlighted how Israel was innovating in “how to integrate AI in ways that genuinely reduce workload for teachers, giving them more space to do their jobs well”, reiterating his stance “to ensure our education system supports students, particularly those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.”
The meeting highlighted innovation in the Israeli education system and how the UK can learn from it, including its integration of AI and SEN, its promotion of multiculturalism, and its support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
You can read the Jewish News article about this delegation here.
