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Staff often segregated by gender at faith schools, says chief inspector Staff often segregated by gender at faith schools, says chief inspector
(35 minutes later)
Teachers and other staff at some independent faith schools are being segregated by gender, the chief inspector of schools Sir Michael Wilshaw has warned in a letter to the education secretary. Teachers and other staff at some independent faith schools are being segregated by gender, the chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has said in a letter to the education secretary.
In one case, staff at Rabia girls and boys school in Luton were segregated during whole-school training, with men kept in one room while the session was broadcast to women in a separate part of the school. In one case, staff at Rabia girls and boys school in Luton were segregated during whole-school training, with men in one room while the session was broadcast to women in a separate part of the school.
In a separate incident, the same school insisted on segregating male and female staff using a dividing screen across the middle of the room during an initial meeting with inspectors from the schools watchdog, Ofsted. In a separate incident, the school insisted on segregating male and female staff using a dividing screen across the middle of the room during an initial meeting with inspectors from the schools watchdog, Ofsted.
“This meeting was not carried out in a religious setting but in a classroom,” said Sir Michael, who warned that such segregation flouts the requirement to promote fundamental British values in schools. “This meeting was not carried out in a religious setting, but in a classroom,” said Wilshaw, who warned that such segregation flouts the requirement to promote fundamental British values in schools.
The Rabia school is a Muslim day school with 160 pupils. It has received a series of adverse Ofsted judgements. Last year it was criticised for treating boys and girls differently, limiting girls to sewing and knitting in design and technology classes. Rabia is a Muslim day school with 160 pupils. It has received a series of adverse Ofsted judgments. Last year, the school was criticised for treating boys and girls differently, limiting girls to sewing and knitting in design and technology classes.
This latest inspection, which took place earlier in April, described the school once again as “inadequate”, although inspectors said there had been some progress elsewhere in response to earlier inspections. The latest inspection, which took place earlier in April, described the school once again as “inadequate”, although inspectors said there had been some progress elsewhere in response to earlier inspections.
Sir Michael first wrote to Nicky Morgan on the issue of segregation of staff and governors in independent faith schools last November, but emergency follow-up inspections of three independent faith schools earlier this month revealed the practice was still under way. Wilshaw first wrote to Nicky Morgan, the education secretary, on the issue of segregation of staff and governors at independent faith schools in November, but emergency follow-up inspections of three independent faith schools earlier this month showed that the practice was still occurring.
He urged the education secretary to review the Department for Education guidance introduced in 2014 and if necessary write to the proprietors of independent faith schools to clarify government expectations and commitment to the promotion of British values. He urged Morgan to review the Department for Education guidance introduced in 2014 and, if necessary, write to the proprietors of independent faith schools to clarify government expectations and commitment to the promotion of British values.
“This sort of behaviour manifested by the leaders of this school clearly does not conform to the spirit of the equalities legislation which underpins the spiritual, moral, social and cultural standard,” wrote Sir Michael. “This sort of behaviour manifested by the leaders of this school clearly does not conform to the spirit of the equalities legislation which underpins the spiritual, moral, social and cultural standard,” Wilshaw wrote.
He said he believed standards relating to fundamental British values were being actively undermined by some leaders, proprietors and governors in independent schools. “Any form of segregation, without a good educational reason, is likely to lead to an inadequate inspection judgement for leadership and management.” He said he believed that standards relating to fundamental British values were being actively undermined by some leaders, proprietors and governors in independent schools. “Any form of segregation, without a good educational reason, is likely to lead to an inadequate inspection judgment for leadership and management,” Wilshaw said.
The Rabia school was contacted for a response but there was no immediate comment. Rabia school was contacted for a response but there was no immediate comment.