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Children's exposure to extremism is an urgent problem, says Ofsted head Children's exposure to extremism is an urgent problem, says Ofsted head
(about 2 months later)
Repeated failures by local authorities to safeguard children from extremism is an “urgent and escalating problem”, the head of Ofsted has told the government, in a scathing report that calls for close monitoring of areas where children are most at risk of radicalisation. Sir Michael Wilshaw claimed that headteachers in Birmingham still faced “intimidation from some elements within the local community” over school policies and teaching of topics such as equality.Repeated failures by local authorities to safeguard children from extremism is an “urgent and escalating problem”, the head of Ofsted has told the government, in a scathing report that calls for close monitoring of areas where children are most at risk of radicalisation. Sir Michael Wilshaw claimed that headteachers in Birmingham still faced “intimidation from some elements within the local community” over school policies and teaching of topics such as equality.
In a memo to education secretary Nicky Morgan, Wilshaw said his recent visits to Birmingham, Luton and Bradford had found council officials with “troubling gaps” in their knowledge of vulnerable local children.In a memo to education secretary Nicky Morgan, Wilshaw said his recent visits to Birmingham, Luton and Bradford had found council officials with “troubling gaps” in their knowledge of vulnerable local children.
“I am particularly concerned about the failure of these authorities to address the problem of children missing from education and to satisfy themselves that these children are not being exposed to harm, exploitation, or the risk of falling under the influence of extremist views,” Wilshaw told Morgan.“I am particularly concerned about the failure of these authorities to address the problem of children missing from education and to satisfy themselves that these children are not being exposed to harm, exploitation, or the risk of falling under the influence of extremist views,” Wilshaw told Morgan.
Related: The Guardian view on Ofsted: new chief put to the wrong test | Editorial
Wilshaw was harshly critical of the operation of children’s services in Birmingham, noting that the children’s services department in the city has failed seven Ofsted inspections over the last 10 years, and showed few signs of improving. “This long and shocking track record of inadequate provision represents a failure of corporate governance on a grand scale,” he said.Wilshaw was harshly critical of the operation of children’s services in Birmingham, noting that the children’s services department in the city has failed seven Ofsted inspections over the last 10 years, and showed few signs of improving. “This long and shocking track record of inadequate provision represents a failure of corporate governance on a grand scale,” he said.
“Birmingham’s political leaders, in my opinion, have consistently shown themselves to be incapable of delivering the urgent and sustained change required to improve the safety and wellbeing of the city’s vulnerable children.”“Birmingham’s political leaders, in my opinion, have consistently shown themselves to be incapable of delivering the urgent and sustained change required to improve the safety and wellbeing of the city’s vulnerable children.”
He urged Morgan to ensure that “those in the local authority who have demonstrated such incompetence over many years” be kept away from the new, independent voluntary trust that is to take over children’s services in Birmingham.He urged Morgan to ensure that “those in the local authority who have demonstrated such incompetence over many years” be kept away from the new, independent voluntary trust that is to take over children’s services in Birmingham.
Ofsted inspectors found the management of safeguarding in Birmingham’s schools to be weak, with staff slow to locate children missing from school and the council simply removing the names of those who remained missing from its records.Ofsted inspectors found the management of safeguarding in Birmingham’s schools to be weak, with staff slow to locate children missing from school and the council simply removing the names of those who remained missing from its records.
In response, a Department for Education spokesperson said: “Although Birmingham city council has made some improvements to the way it runs its children’s services, we know this progress has not gone far enough, fast enough, and Sir Michael Wilshaw’s letter reinforces that.”In response, a Department for Education spokesperson said: “Although Birmingham city council has made some improvements to the way it runs its children’s services, we know this progress has not gone far enough, fast enough, and Sir Michael Wilshaw’s letter reinforces that.”
Wilshaw also warned that while state schools in Birmingham had improved since the Trojan Horse affair of 2014, which saw allegations of a plot to influence schools in east Birmingham in strict Islamic teachings, there was still work to be done.Wilshaw also warned that while state schools in Birmingham had improved since the Trojan Horse affair of 2014, which saw allegations of a plot to influence schools in east Birmingham in strict Islamic teachings, there was still work to be done.
“I am quite clear that, although many of these schools have improved and children are now much safer, the situation remains fragile,” Wilshaw said. “While the overwhelming majority of parents support the changes that have taken place over the past two years, there are a minority of people in the community who are still intent on destabilising these schools.“I am quite clear that, although many of these schools have improved and children are now much safer, the situation remains fragile,” Wilshaw said. “While the overwhelming majority of parents support the changes that have taken place over the past two years, there are a minority of people in the community who are still intent on destabilising these schools.
“In one particular meeting I held with a group of heads, it was distressing to hear how isolated and vulnerable many of them said they felt.”“In one particular meeting I held with a group of heads, it was distressing to hear how isolated and vulnerable many of them said they felt.”
Several heads told Wilshaw they faced resistance from some parents in the promotion of equality, and had received derogatory comments through social media.Several heads told Wilshaw they faced resistance from some parents in the promotion of equality, and had received derogatory comments through social media.
Related: Councils failing to protect at-risk children, says Ofsted
“These headteachers are working hard in often difficult circumstances to provide the strong leadership necessary to keep their schools on track. However, it was commonly recognised by members of the group that the culture of fear that I identified two years ago had not gone away. One headteacher said that the problem has gone underground, but it is definitely still there,” Wilshaw said.“These headteachers are working hard in often difficult circumstances to provide the strong leadership necessary to keep their schools on track. However, it was commonly recognised by members of the group that the culture of fear that I identified two years ago had not gone away. One headteacher said that the problem has gone underground, but it is definitely still there,” Wilshaw said.
Wilshaw’s term as Ofsted chief inspector runs until the end of the year. Morgan has maintained that she is going ahead with her nomination of Amanda Spielman as his replacement, despite concerns raised by parliament’s education committee.Wilshaw’s term as Ofsted chief inspector runs until the end of the year. Morgan has maintained that she is going ahead with her nomination of Amanda Spielman as his replacement, despite concerns raised by parliament’s education committee.
In a letter to the committee, Morgan said: “I am sure that Amanda will generate fewer headlines than her predecessor, but I also know that she will not shy away from challenging government, nor from offering frank assessments of the performance of our educational institutions.”In a letter to the committee, Morgan said: “I am sure that Amanda will generate fewer headlines than her predecessor, but I also know that she will not shy away from challenging government, nor from offering frank assessments of the performance of our educational institutions.”