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Birmingham Islamic school sues Ofsted after being failed for leaflet Birmingham Islamic school sues Ofsted after being failed for leaflet
(about 3 hours later)
Birchfield girls’ school rated inadequate after inspectors find ‘inflammatory’ circular from 1994Birchfield girls’ school rated inadequate after inspectors find ‘inflammatory’ circular from 1994
An Islamic school in Birmingham has mounted a legal challenge against Ofsted after it was failed by the educational watchdog over a 25-year-old “inflammatory” leaflet. An Islamic school in Birmingham has mounted a legal challenge against Ofsted after it was failed by the watchdog over a 25-year-old leaflet.
Birchfield independent girls’ school in Aston was rated as “inadequate” by Ofsted after inspectors found a leaflet about a 1994 Islamic conference in the library. Ofsted rated Birchfield independent girls’ school in Aston as “inadequate” after inspectors found an “inflammatory” leaflet about a 1994 Islamic conference in the library.
The school was predicted to get a “good” judgment until the discovery during the second day of the inspection, the Birmingham Mail. The school had been predicted to get a rating of “good” until the discovery during the second day of the inspection, the Birmingham Mail.
Inspectors said: “The leaflet states: ‘Today we find that the sons and daughters of Islam are under continuous attack by the forces of non-Islam.’”Inspectors said: “The leaflet states: ‘Today we find that the sons and daughters of Islam are under continuous attack by the forces of non-Islam.’”
It also promoted the Khaleefah, which is defined as “the total rulership of Muslims over the world”. It promoted the Khaleefah, which is defined as “the total rulership of Muslims over the world”.
The watchdog found the school was providing a “good” education for pupils but safeguarding was ineffective owing to the contents of the leaflet. This result in Birchfield been given an “inadequate” rating. The watchdog found the school was providing a “good” education for pupils but said safeguarding was ineffective owing to the contents of the leaflet. This resulted in Birchfield being given an “inadequate” rating.
The leaflet advertised a Muslim conference at Wembley stadium in 1994 and inspectors said it “could lead pupils to views promoting the proposed supremacy of Muslims in the world”.The leaflet advertised a Muslim conference at Wembley stadium in 1994 and inspectors said it “could lead pupils to views promoting the proposed supremacy of Muslims in the world”.
Birchfield has launched a legal challenge, saying it had been a victim of Ofsted’s “draconian and inconsistent inspection practices” against faith-based independent schools. Birchfield has launched a legal challenge, saying it has been a victim of Ofsted’s “draconian and inconsistent inspection practices” against faith-based independent schools.
In a statement, the school said: “The leaflet identified has no place in our teachings, curriculum or ethos. We work hard to promote fundamental British values and the rule of law at our school.In a statement, the school said: “The leaflet identified has no place in our teachings, curriculum or ethos. We work hard to promote fundamental British values and the rule of law at our school.
“It is simply unacceptable for Ofsted to undermine all of the hard work put in by staff and pupils when coming to wholly inaccurate judgments of schools. We continue to challenge the decision making which led to our inspection judgments and await Ofsted’s legal response.”“It is simply unacceptable for Ofsted to undermine all of the hard work put in by staff and pupils when coming to wholly inaccurate judgments of schools. We continue to challenge the decision making which led to our inspection judgments and await Ofsted’s legal response.”
In the report Ofsted inspectors said they were “confident the sentiments [in the leaflet] did not reflect the views of pupils”, but its presence in the library showed the school “was not adequately protecting pupils”. In the report, Ofsted inspectors said they were “confident the sentiments [in the leaflet] did not reflect the views of pupils”, but its presence in the library showed the school was not adequately protecting pupils.
Therefore, they concluded, Birchfield failed to meet independent school standards rating the quality of education and pupils’ personal development as “good”, but that safeguarding and pupil attitudes was inadequate. The report said: “The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. This is because of the serious nature of the inflammatory leaflet found in the school library, dating from 1994. Leaders have not made sure that pupils are protected from inflammatory and unsuitable literature. Therefore, pupils are not safe from potential radicalisation.
The report says: “The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. This is because of the serious nature of the inflammatory leaflet found in the school library, dating from 1994.
“Leaders have not made sure that pupils are protected from inflammatory and unsuitable literature. Therefore, pupils are not safe from potential radicalisation.
“School leaders could not say how the leaflet that was found got into the library, nor why it was openly displayed on a library shelf. Leaders could not say why staff had not spotted and removed the leaflet.”“School leaders could not say how the leaflet that was found got into the library, nor why it was openly displayed on a library shelf. Leaders could not say why staff had not spotted and removed the leaflet.”
Birchfield’s headteacher, Rehana Mogra, said she was deeply disappointed, adding that it was indicative of a negative attitude towards faith-based school.Birchfield’s headteacher, Rehana Mogra, said she was deeply disappointed, adding that it was indicative of a negative attitude towards faith-based school.
“[The judgment] in no way reflect the paramount importance that we place on safeguarding, nor the evidence base collected by inspectors. Our pupils are safe, well cared for and our school has robust systems in place to safeguard our pupils,” she said.“[The judgment] in no way reflect the paramount importance that we place on safeguarding, nor the evidence base collected by inspectors. Our pupils are safe, well cared for and our school has robust systems in place to safeguard our pupils,” she said.
A spokesperson for Ofsted said: “Our inspection handbook makes it clear that a setting will be rated inadequate if it is considered that safeguarding is ineffective.”A spokesperson for Ofsted said: “Our inspection handbook makes it clear that a setting will be rated inadequate if it is considered that safeguarding is ineffective.”