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-24668642

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Al-Madinah free school: Governor Shazia Parveen resigns Al-Madinah free school: Mosque leaders call on trustees to go
(about 1 hour later)
The chair of governors of the under-fire Al-Madinah Muslim free school has announced she is stepping down. Muslim community leaders have called for all the governors at the under-fire Al-Madinah Muslim free school to go.
Ofsted inspectors had described the school in Derby as "dysfunctional" and rated it inadequate in every category. The demand came after chairwoman of governors, Shazia Parveen, announced she was stepping down.
The inspection had been brought forward by the agency after fears were raised about teaching standards. Ofsted inspectors have described the school as "dysfunctional" and rated it inadequate in every category.
Shazia Parveen said she would step down at the "end of a period of transition" and acknowledged the weaknesses identified by Ofsted. A statement from the Jamia mosque and Derby Islamic Centre said the trustees had not followed the ideals on which the school was founded.
In a statement, she said: "The future of our children starts now." Chairman of Derby Jamia mosque, Shahid Hamid, said: "We believe the position of the trustees has become untenable.
"The vision and principles on which they sold the school to parents, pupils, central government and the wider community have not been adhered to.
"We strongly urge the trust offer their resignation to the Department for Education."
'Best interests''Best interests'
An inspection of the school was brought forward after fears were raised about teaching standards.
Ms Parveen said she would step down at the "end of a period of transition" and acknowledged the weaknesses identified by Ofsted.
In a statement, she said: "The future of our children starts now."
The Ofsted report, published on 17 October, said the school required special measures and that the teachers were inexperienced and had not been provided with proper training.The Ofsted report, published on 17 October, said the school required special measures and that the teachers were inexperienced and had not been provided with proper training.
Al-Madinah Education Trust said it accepted the report and would use it to move forward.Al-Madinah Education Trust said it accepted the report and would use it to move forward.
Ms Parveen said in her statement: "Over the last few years, I have sacrificed my own time, family and health for this noble cause - to help educate the children of our communities.Ms Parveen said in her statement: "Over the last few years, I have sacrificed my own time, family and health for this noble cause - to help educate the children of our communities.
"The future of our children starts now. Much has been said about our school. We, the governing body, have tried our best."The future of our children starts now. Much has been said about our school. We, the governing body, have tried our best.
"We acknowledge the weaknesses within our school and have taken the Department for Education (DfE) recommendations very seriously. "We acknowledge the weaknesses within our school and have taken the Department for Education (DfE) recommendations very seriously."
"I plan to step down from my position as chair of the governing body as soon as the transition is over and this is clearly for the best interests of our children.
"In conclusion, we are ready to learn from our mistakes but not willing to fail our students."
'Lack of oversight''Lack of oversight'
A DfE spokesman said: "We were already investigating this school before allegations became public. We discussed the problems with Ofsted and it launched an immediate inspection." A DfE spokesman said: "We were already investigating this school before allegations became public.
Labour's shadow schools minister Kevin Brennan MP said following Ms Parveen's resignation: "Another day, another episode in David Cameron's flailing flagship education programme. "We discussed the problems with Ofsted and it launched an immediate inspection."
Labour's shadow schools minister Kevin Brennan said following Ms Parveen's resignation: "Another day, another episode in David Cameron's flailing flagship education programme.
"Al-Madinah is a symbol of all that is wrong with Cameron's free schools."Al-Madinah is a symbol of all that is wrong with Cameron's free schools.
"Labour has long warned of the dangers: a lack of oversight, allowing unqualified teachers to teach on a permanent basis, and spending on free schools ahead of addressing the chronic shortages in primary school places.""Labour has long warned of the dangers: a lack of oversight, allowing unqualified teachers to teach on a permanent basis, and spending on free schools ahead of addressing the chronic shortages in primary school places."
Prime Minister David Cameron had said the Derby school should not be used "as a stick with which to beat the whole free school movement". Mr Cameron had said the Derby school should not be used "as a stick with which to beat the whole free school movement".
He added there were many free schools that had on average more outstanding and good ratings than established schools.He added there were many free schools that had on average more outstanding and good ratings than established schools.
The Ofsted report followed a letter to the Trust on 8 October by Education Minster Lord Nash which laid out 17 issues. The Ofsted report followed a letter to the trust on 8 October by Education Minister Lord Nash which laid out 17 issues.
These included forcing female teachers to cover their hair and failing to carry out background checks on staff.These included forcing female teachers to cover their hair and failing to carry out background checks on staff.
He said funding would be pulled if urgent steps had not been taken within seven days. Speaking after the report was published, interim principal Dr Stuart Wilson said any school facing special measures had its fair share of issues and accepted the school has "a whole range of problems".
Speaking after the report was published, interim principal Dr Stuart Wilson said any school facing special measures has its fair share of issues and accepted the school has "a whole range of problems". He said it had made a start in each of the areas of concern outlined in Lord Nash's letter that a number of these had already been addressed.
He said they had made a start to each of the areas of concern outlined in Lord Nash's letter to the chair of governors and that a number of these had already been addressed. The school's trustees have to provide a plan to show how fit they are to run the school, and how it will improve, by 1 November.
The school's trustees now have to provide an action plan to show how fit they are to run the school, and how it will improve, by 1 November.