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'Trojan Horse': Campaign' to impose 'faith-based' ideology 'Trojan Horse': Campaign' to impose 'faith-based' ideology
(35 minutes later)
Head teachers claim there was an organised campaign to impose a "narrow, faith-based ideology" at some schools in Birmingham, Ofsted has said.Head teachers claim there was an organised campaign to impose a "narrow, faith-based ideology" at some schools in Birmingham, Ofsted has said.
The watchdog has placed five of the city's schools in special measures after "deeply worrying" findings.The watchdog has placed five of the city's schools in special measures after "deeply worrying" findings.
It inspected 21 schools after an anonymous letter alleging a Muslim takeover plot was circulated.It inspected 21 schools after an anonymous letter alleging a Muslim takeover plot was circulated.
He added that a number of the schools inspected were "doing well" and promoting social awareness. Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw said a number of schools inspected were "doing well" to promote social awareness.
Ofsted carried out monitoring inspections at 16 schools, and full inspections at the five schools branded inadequate. Inspectors carried out monitoring visits at 16 schools, and full inspections at the five schools branded inadequate.
Governors 'too involved'Governors 'too involved'
These included Park View School, Golden Hillock School and Nansen Primary, run by the Park View Educational Trust.These included Park View School, Golden Hillock School and Nansen Primary, run by the Park View Educational Trust.
Oldknow Academy, in Small Heath, and Saltley School were also put into special measures.Oldknow Academy, in Small Heath, and Saltley School were also put into special measures.
Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw said teachers at some of the schools inspected had reported being unfairly treated due to their faith and gender. Reports found music lessons had been removed from the timetable at Nansen, where Muslim pupils exhibited "limited knowledge" of other religions.
Governance and leadership was particularly criticised at all five schools rated inadequate.
Sir Michael Wilshaw said teachers at some of the schools inspected had reported being unfairly treated due to their faith and gender.
He said inspectors had "uncovered evidence of unfair and opaque recruitment practices, including examples of relatives being appointed to unadvertised senior posts".He said inspectors had "uncovered evidence of unfair and opaque recruitment practices, including examples of relatives being appointed to unadvertised senior posts".
He attributed a "sudden steep decline" in some schools, such as Park View School, which was downgraded from "outstanding" to "inadequate", to governors exerting too much sway over the running of schools.
"Although exam results are often good, the curriculum has become too narrow, reflecting the personal views of a small number of governors, rather than the wider community in Birmingham and beyond," he said."Although exam results are often good, the curriculum has become too narrow, reflecting the personal views of a small number of governors, rather than the wider community in Birmingham and beyond," he said.
"It's really important that all our schools, whether they're faith schools or secular schools, promote the values of wider British society," he added.
"This is especially true of schools that serve culturally homogenous communities such as those we inspected in Birmingham."
Sir Michael also criticised Birmingham City Council for its "failure to support schools in their efforts to keep pupils safe from the risk of extremism".Sir Michael also criticised Birmingham City Council for its "failure to support schools in their efforts to keep pupils safe from the risk of extremism".
"There's been a lack of urgency in the council's response to persistent complaints from head teachers about the conduct of certain governors," he said."There's been a lack of urgency in the council's response to persistent complaints from head teachers about the conduct of certain governors," he said.
Park View Academy, Golden Hillock and Nansen Primary, run by the Park View Educational Trust, were recently inspected by Ofsted. Park View Educational Trust said it "wholeheartedly disputed" the watchdog's findings and would mount a legal challenge to them.
The trust said it "wholeheartedly disputed" the watchdog's findings and would mount a legal challenge to them. Vice chair of Park View Educational Trust Dave Hughes accused inspectors of operating in a "climate of suspicion".
Earlier, a leaked draft report from the Education Funding Agency said some parts of the trust's curriculum were "restricted to a conservative Islamic perspective".
It found that girls and boys had been segregated in some classes.
Ofsted's report into Golden Hillock Secondary School, in Small Heath, accused the school of not doing enough to protect pupils from being exposed to extremism.
Vice chair of Park View Educational Trust Dave Hughes said it "wholeheartedly disputed" Ofsted's findings and accused inspectors of operating in a "climate of suspicion".
"Ofsted inspectors came to our school looking for extremism, looking for segregation, looking for proof that our children have religion forced upon them as part of a religious plot," he said."Ofsted inspectors came to our school looking for extremism, looking for segregation, looking for proof that our children have religion forced upon them as part of a religious plot," he said.
"The Ofsted reports find no evidence of this, because this is categorically not what is happening at our schools."The Ofsted reports find no evidence of this, because this is categorically not what is happening at our schools.
"Our schools do not tolerate extremism of any kind," he added."Our schools do not tolerate extremism of any kind," he added.
Arshad Malik, whose son, Imran, is in Year 9 at Park View School, said he had read the Ofsted report and he believed its findings were "alien" to his child's experience.
"‎Inspectors came with loaded questions," he said.
"This issue is a political football.
"People... are trying to use this school to push their own agendas."
The trust said Golden Hillock was "categorically not an inadequate school" and had only been part of the trust for five months when it was inspected.The trust said Golden Hillock was "categorically not an inadequate school" and had only been part of the trust for five months when it was inspected.
"A number of the judgments are based on data and information that pre‐date the trust's involvement," it said."A number of the judgments are based on data and information that pre‐date the trust's involvement," it said.
In a statement, Saltley School said Ofsted had "found not the slightest shred of evidence" of an extremist influence at the school. In a statement, Saltley School said Ofsted had "found not the slightest shred of evidence" of an extremist influence at the school.
"Parents and the wider community can be wholly confident that students here are safe and well looked after," it said."Parents and the wider community can be wholly confident that students here are safe and well looked after," it said.
Head of Birmingham City Council Sir Albert Bore said the authority was "reassured that no evidence of a plot or conspiracy have been found by Ofsted".Head of Birmingham City Council Sir Albert Bore said the authority was "reassured that no evidence of a plot or conspiracy have been found by Ofsted".
"It is clear from Ofsted's inspection findings and Sir Michael Wilshaw's report that some governors do not fulfil their roles and responsibilities and have interfered improperly in the ethos, policies and day-to-day running of certain schools," he said."It is clear from Ofsted's inspection findings and Sir Michael Wilshaw's report that some governors do not fulfil their roles and responsibilities and have interfered improperly in the ethos, policies and day-to-day running of certain schools," he said.
The 21 schools inspectedThe 21 schools inspected