This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-24548690
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Al-Madinah free school in Derby labelled 'dysfunctional' by Ofsted | Al-Madinah free school in Derby labelled 'dysfunctional' by Ofsted |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Muslim free school has been damned by Ofsted inspectors as "dysfunctional" and rated inadequate in every category - within a year of it opening. | |
| An inspection at Derby's Al-Madinah school was brought forward after fears were raised over teaching standards. | An inspection at Derby's Al-Madinah school was brought forward after fears were raised over teaching standards. |
| The leaked report says teachers there are inexperienced and have not been provided with proper training and that the school requires special measures. | The leaked report says teachers there are inexperienced and have not been provided with proper training and that the school requires special measures. |
| The school said it accepted the report and would use it to move forward. | |
| The inspection had been due to take place by the end of the year but was prioritised following allegations that female teachers were obliged to wear hijabs and pupils were segregated. | The inspection had been due to take place by the end of the year but was prioritised following allegations that female teachers were obliged to wear hijabs and pupils were segregated. |
| The school has since written to pupils and staff telling them there is no requirement to cover their hair. | The school has since written to pupils and staff telling them there is no requirement to cover their hair. |
| The Department for Education had earlier warned the school faced closure unless discrimination against female staff and pupils stopped. | The Department for Education had earlier warned the school faced closure unless discrimination against female staff and pupils stopped. |
| A spokesperson said: "We were already investigating this school before allegations became public. We discussed the problems with Ofsted and it launched an immediate inspection. | A spokesperson said: "We were already investigating this school before allegations became public. We discussed the problems with Ofsted and it launched an immediate inspection. |
| "We have received a response from the Al-Madinah Education Trust as well as a report on the school from Ofsted. Any decisions made will take into account all the available evidence." | "We have received a response from the Al-Madinah Education Trust as well as a report on the school from Ofsted. Any decisions made will take into account all the available evidence." |
| Cut and paste | Cut and paste |
| The Ofsted report found that pupils were given the same work "regardless of their different abilities" and the governing body was "ineffective". | The Ofsted report found that pupils were given the same work "regardless of their different abilities" and the governing body was "ineffective". |
| It said basic systems were not in place, describing the school as being "in chaos" and "dysfunctional". | It said basic systems were not in place, describing the school as being "in chaos" and "dysfunctional". |
| Boys and girls had different lunch sittings but the report said this was due to the small size of the canteen. | Boys and girls had different lunch sittings but the report said this was due to the small size of the canteen. |
| Inspectors gave the school the lowest ranking - "inadequate" - in every area, prompting the chief inspector of schools Sir Michael Wilshaw to call for it to be placed in special measures. | Inspectors gave the school the lowest ranking - "inadequate" - in every area, prompting the chief inspector of schools Sir Michael Wilshaw to call for it to be placed in special measures. |
| This means Ofsted will carry out inspections at the school at short notice to monitor improvements. If poor performance continues the school could be closed. | This means Ofsted will carry out inspections at the school at short notice to monitor improvements. If poor performance continues the school could be closed. |
| Dr Stuart Wilson, the acting head teacher, said there were "significant and serous problems" at the school and accepted some of the lessons were not meeting necessary standards. | Dr Stuart Wilson, the acting head teacher, said there were "significant and serous problems" at the school and accepted some of the lessons were not meeting necessary standards. |
| In one mathematics lesson, described by Ofsted as "insufficiently challenging", pupils spent the majority of their time cutting out and pasting shapes. | In one mathematics lesson, described by Ofsted as "insufficiently challenging", pupils spent the majority of their time cutting out and pasting shapes. |
| Dr Wilson said the school, which has 412 pupils aged between four and 16, had a lot of issues to deal with but he insisted it did have a future. | Dr Wilson said the school, which has 412 pupils aged between four and 16, had a lot of issues to deal with but he insisted it did have a future. |
| "Obviously the report doesn't make pleasant reading for anybody - we don't want to be in this position - we wish we weren't in this position - but what we need to do now is to accept the report in full and use it to move the school forward." | "Obviously the report doesn't make pleasant reading for anybody - we don't want to be in this position - we wish we weren't in this position - but what we need to do now is to accept the report in full and use it to move the school forward." |
| Chris Williamson, MP for Derby North, said: "Frankly, the position of Al-Madinah school is now untenable and I would fully expect the school to close and for the children to be found alternative places in the council schools in the city." | |
| Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said the Ofsted report exposed the government's free school programme as a "dangerous free-for-all". | |
| He said: "Pupils have been failed on every possible measure and parents will want to know how David Cameron and Michael Gove have allowed this to happen." | He said: "Pupils have been failed on every possible measure and parents will want to know how David Cameron and Michael Gove have allowed this to happen." |
| He added: "Far from an isolated incident, the failings at this school reveal the systemic threat to education standards under this government. | He added: "Far from an isolated incident, the failings at this school reveal the systemic threat to education standards under this government. |
| "David Cameron and Michael Gove can no longer ignore this issue - it is a crisis entirely of their own making." | "David Cameron and Michael Gove can no longer ignore this issue - it is a crisis entirely of their own making." |
| The government has been offered the opportunity to respond to Mr Hunt's comments. Education minister David Laws is expected to respond to a question from Mr Hunt in parliament this morning. |