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Trojan horse school 'pupils and staff used antisemitic language' Trojan horse school 'pupils and staff used antisemitic language'
(about 2 hours later)
Pupils and staff at the Birmingham school embroiled in the Trojan Horse affair exchanged “antisemitic language” according to a witness giving evidence on Thursday at disciplinary hearings for teachers involved. Pupils and staff at the Birmingham school embroiled in the Trojan Horse affair exchanged “antisemitic language”, according to a witness giving evidence on Thursday at disciplinary hearings for teachers involved.
The witness, a former staff member at Park View academy, granted anonymity to give evidence to the National College of Teaching and Leadership hearing, said the school was dominated by male staff and governors who were “conservative Muslims with strong beliefs”. The witness, a former staff member at Park View academy, granted anonymity to give evidence to the National College for Teaching and Leadership hearing, said the school was dominated by male staff and governors who were “conservative Muslims with strong beliefs”.
But under questioning, Witness A, as she is called at the hearing, was challenged over her claims that religious demands had curtailed sex education at the school and led to higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases in parts of Birmingham.But under questioning, Witness A, as she is called at the hearing, was challenged over her claims that religious demands had curtailed sex education at the school and led to higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases in parts of Birmingham.
Saying she had “heard both pupils and staff use antisemitic language,” Witness A told the panel: “Racist and homophobic comments were ongoing but not a common problem in the school. Saying she had “heard both pupils and staff use antisemitic language”, Witness A told the panel: “Racist and homophobic comments were ongoing but not a common problem in the school.
“For example, pupils would say to staff or other pupils ‘you Jew boy’, which was considered a derogatory term.”“For example, pupils would say to staff or other pupils ‘you Jew boy’, which was considered a derogatory term.”
The witness said Park View’s head teacher at the time, Lindsey Clark, failed to arrest the problem. The witness said Park View’s headteacher at the time, Lindsey Clark, failed to arrest the problem.
“At that time Lindsey [Clark] had heard about a member of staff calling a pupil a ‘Jew boy’ and around the same time she had become aware of an increase in antisemitic graffiti in pupils’ books.” “At that time Lindsey had heard about a member of staff calling a pupil a ‘Jew boy’ and around the same time she had become aware of an increase in antisemitic graffiti in pupils’ books.”
The evidence came during hearings in Coventry, in front of a three-member panel considering the NCTL’s case against former Park View head teachers Monzoor Hussain, Lindsey Clark and Hardeep Saini. The evidence came during hearings in Coventry, in front of a three-member panel considering the NCTL’s case against former Park View headteachers Clark, Monzoor Hussain and Hardeep Saini.
Also before the panel are Razwan Faraz, former deputy head of Nansen primary school in Birmingham, and Arshad Hussain, an assistant head teacher at Park View. Also before the panel are Razwan Faraz, a former deputy head of Nansen primary school in Birmingham, and Arshad Hussain, an assistant headteacher at Park View.
Related: Schoolboys at Trojan horse academy 'not taught safe sex', panel hearsRelated: Schoolboys at Trojan horse academy 'not taught safe sex', panel hears
The five teachers are contesting the allegations, which could see them barred from teaching for life. The hearings are expected to continue next week.The five teachers are contesting the allegations, which could see them barred from teaching for life. The hearings are expected to continue next week.
Witness A’s earlier claims that sex education at the school avoided topics such as STDs was undermined by a letter to parents asking for permission for pupils to attend sex education classes, which included subjects such as contraception and sexual health. Witness A’s earlier claims that sex education at the school avoided topics such as STIs was undermined by a letter to parents asking for permission for pupils to attend sex education classes, which included subjects such as contraception and sexual health.
In her statement the witness had also claimed an official from “Birmingham health authority” told her that young people in the area were not practising safe sex and had high levels of STDs. In her statement the witness had also claimed an official from “Birmingham health authority” told her that young people in the area were not practising safe sex and had high levels of STIs.
The former staff member is a key witness in the NCTL’s case against the five teachers, through her claims that religious influence caused the sex education curriculum to avoid sensitive topics such as displaying condoms.The former staff member is a key witness in the NCTL’s case against the five teachers, through her claims that religious influence caused the sex education curriculum to avoid sensitive topics such as displaying condoms.
But the witness also agreed that she had drawn up the school’s new sex and relationship curriculum, and was encouraged by one of the teachers before the panel, Arshad Hussain.But the witness also agreed that she had drawn up the school’s new sex and relationship curriculum, and was encouraged by one of the teachers before the panel, Arshad Hussain.
“He always gave me the green light to enrich the curriculum,” Witness A told the hearing via video link.“He always gave me the green light to enrich the curriculum,” Witness A told the hearing via video link.
The hearing is one of three taking place looking into allegations that staff in schools in Birmingham allowed “an undue amount of religious influence in the education of pupils” as well as unacceptable professional conduct.The hearing is one of three taking place looking into allegations that staff in schools in Birmingham allowed “an undue amount of religious influence in the education of pupils” as well as unacceptable professional conduct.
At one of the hearings, taking place in Birmingham, the panel dismissed the NCTL’s proceedings against one of the 11 teachers in total.At one of the hearings, taking place in Birmingham, the panel dismissed the NCTL’s proceedings against one of the 11 teachers in total.
The Department for Education said its case against Johirul Islam, a former teacher at Park View, “has been discontinued” in the hearing’s fourth day.The Department for Education said its case against Johirul Islam, a former teacher at Park View, “has been discontinued” in the hearing’s fourth day.
The decision suggests the NTCL may struggle to press its case against several other teachers facing similar allegations.The decision suggests the NTCL may struggle to press its case against several other teachers facing similar allegations.
The NCTL’s allegations against Islam included changing the school’s curriculum to include greater emphasis on religion, and that his efforts undermined “tolerance or respect for the faith and beliefs of others”.The NCTL’s allegations against Islam included changing the school’s curriculum to include greater emphasis on religion, and that his efforts undermined “tolerance or respect for the faith and beliefs of others”.
Related: Academy over-expansion is the real Trojan horse scandal | Lee DonaghyRelated: Academy over-expansion is the real Trojan horse scandal | Lee Donaghy
The Trojan horse controversy erupted in early 2014, after anonymous letters alleged an Islamist plot to influence several schools with high numbers of Muslim pupils in east Birmingham.The Trojan horse controversy erupted in early 2014, after anonymous letters alleged an Islamist plot to influence several schools with high numbers of Muslim pupils in east Birmingham.
Ofsted inspected more than 20 schools in the city suspected of involvement, while separate inquiries were undertaken. Five schools were placed in special measures by Ofsted and had a change of management.Ofsted inspected more than 20 schools in the city suspected of involvement, while separate inquiries were undertaken. Five schools were placed in special measures by Ofsted and had a change of management.