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Culture of fear and intimidation in Birmingham schools, says Ofsted chief Culture of fear and intimidation in Birmingham schools, says Ofsted chief
(about 1 hour later)
Ofsted's chief inspector says "a culture of fear and intimidation" has rapidly developed within a group of schools in Birmingham which are under investigation over allegations of a city-wide takeover plot by Islamist extremists.Ofsted's chief inspector says "a culture of fear and intimidation" has rapidly developed within a group of schools in Birmingham which are under investigation over allegations of a city-wide takeover plot by Islamist extremists.
Sir Michael Wilshaw said Ofsted inspectors found that school governors had "recently exerted inappropriate influence on policy and the day-to-day running" of several schools in Birmingham, and castigated the city council for not providing adequate support to staff who tried to resist.Sir Michael Wilshaw said Ofsted inspectors found that school governors had "recently exerted inappropriate influence on policy and the day-to-day running" of several schools in Birmingham, and castigated the city council for not providing adequate support to staff who tried to resist.
"Although the test and examination results in many of the schools were good or improving, the curriculum has become too narrow and pupils are not being prepared well enough for life in modern Britain," Wilshaw said."Although the test and examination results in many of the schools were good or improving, the curriculum has become too narrow and pupils are not being prepared well enough for life in modern Britain," Wilshaw said.
"It is my view that the active promotion of a narrow set of values and beliefs in some of the schools is making children vulnerable to segregation and emotional dislocation from wider society.""It is my view that the active promotion of a narrow set of values and beliefs in some of the schools is making children vulnerable to segregation and emotional dislocation from wider society."
He suggested the government needed to do more to make schools promote British values, and – controversially – called for the introduction of professional governors in places where governance had been judged to be inadequate.He suggested the government needed to do more to make schools promote British values, and – controversially – called for the introduction of professional governors in places where governance had been judged to be inadequate.
The education secretary, Michael Gove, said later on Monday that schools would in future be required to promote "British values", including equality between genders and tolerance of other faiths. But he is likely to reject plans for tighter regulation of school governors.
In several schools, Wilshaw said, pupils' experiences "are being restricted rather than broadened" and he was concerned by a few schools where boys and girls were not being treated equally. "For example, in one school, some members of staff actively discourage girls from speaking to boys and from taking part in extra-curricular visits and activities."In several schools, Wilshaw said, pupils' experiences "are being restricted rather than broadened" and he was concerned by a few schools where boys and girls were not being treated equally. "For example, in one school, some members of staff actively discourage girls from speaking to boys and from taking part in extra-curricular visits and activities."
Wilshaw's statement, published as a letter to the education secretary, Michael Gove, was an overview to the 21 inspection reports published on Monday by Ofsted, following Ofsted visits carried out in March after the emergence of a "Trojan horse" letter alleging a takeover plot orchestrated by Islamic extremists.Wilshaw's statement, published as a letter to the education secretary, Michael Gove, was an overview to the 21 inspection reports published on Monday by Ofsted, following Ofsted visits carried out in March after the emergence of a "Trojan horse" letter alleging a takeover plot orchestrated by Islamic extremists.
Of the 21 schools, five were rated as inadequate and placed in special measures due to concerns about pupil safety and school leadership. These included Oldknow primary and Park View academy secondary school, previously judged by Ofsted to be outstanding; as well as Saltley secondary, Golden Hillock secondary and Nansen primary schools. A sixth school, Alston primary, was already in special measures.Of the 21 schools, five were rated as inadequate and placed in special measures due to concerns about pupil safety and school leadership. These included Oldknow primary and Park View academy secondary school, previously judged by Ofsted to be outstanding; as well as Saltley secondary, Golden Hillock secondary and Nansen primary schools. A sixth school, Alston primary, was already in special measures.
Of the remaining 15, five schools – Small Heath, Washwood Heath, Waverley, Chilwell Croft and Ninestiles – were cleared by inspectors of concerns related to risks of extremism and governance, while 11 "required improvement" with specific issues, largely to do with pupil safety and the relationship between staff and governors.Of the remaining 15, five schools – Small Heath, Washwood Heath, Waverley, Chilwell Croft and Ninestiles – were cleared by inspectors of concerns related to risks of extremism and governance, while 11 "required improvement" with specific issues, largely to do with pupil safety and the relationship between staff and governors.
Ofsted inspectors' concerns for safeguarding pupils against extremism extended as far as Gracelands nursery, a small local authority nursery with pupils aged between three and five. "School leaders were unaware of local authority or government guidelines on the prevention of extreme and radical behaviour," the inspection report said.Ofsted inspectors' concerns for safeguarding pupils against extremism extended as far as Gracelands nursery, a small local authority nursery with pupils aged between three and five. "School leaders were unaware of local authority or government guidelines on the prevention of extreme and radical behaviour," the inspection report said.
Wilshaw said in his letter: "The evidence suggests three broad categories of school: in some schools, the inappropriate influence of governors is widespread and deep-rooted; in others, there are significant weaknesses in governance, but the level of undue influence exerted by individual governors is less established; in a few schools, leaders have successfully resisted the attempts of governors to change the nature and ethos of their school."Wilshaw said in his letter: "The evidence suggests three broad categories of school: in some schools, the inappropriate influence of governors is widespread and deep-rooted; in others, there are significant weaknesses in governance, but the level of undue influence exerted by individual governors is less established; in a few schools, leaders have successfully resisted the attempts of governors to change the nature and ethos of their school."
The chief inspector noted that the decline in several schools had occurred since their previous inspection: "As a result, some schools previously judged to be good or outstanding have experienced high levels of staff turbulence, low staff morale and a rapid decline in their overall effectiveness."The chief inspector noted that the decline in several schools had occurred since their previous inspection: "As a result, some schools previously judged to be good or outstanding have experienced high levels of staff turbulence, low staff morale and a rapid decline in their overall effectiveness."
In one case a school leader was so anxious about speaking to Ofsted inspectors that a meeting had to be arranged in a supermarket car park, he said.In one case a school leader was so anxious about speaking to Ofsted inspectors that a meeting had to be arranged in a supermarket car park, he said.
The report hinted at a co-ordinated network alleged in the original "Trojan horse" letter, with Wilshaw noting that some headteachers had identified governors "who are highly influential across several of the schools that were inspected".The report hinted at a co-ordinated network alleged in the original "Trojan horse" letter, with Wilshaw noting that some headteachers had identified governors "who are highly influential across several of the schools that were inspected".
Oldknow school, a large primary with mainly Muslim pupils in Small Heath, east Birmingham, received a highly critical report. Ofsted inspectors said that the school's chair and other governors "exert too much control over operational matters in the academy" and that they failed to protect students from "the risks of radicalisation and extremism".Oldknow school, a large primary with mainly Muslim pupils in Small Heath, east Birmingham, received a highly critical report. Ofsted inspectors said that the school's chair and other governors "exert too much control over operational matters in the academy" and that they failed to protect students from "the risks of radicalisation and extremism".
"[The governors] are unable to ensure that pupils are kept safe from any extreme or radical views they encounter because they do not consider this is an appropriate topic for primary school pupils. Pupils and staff are poorly equipped to understand, respond to or calculate risks associated with extreme or intolerant views," the report said."[The governors] are unable to ensure that pupils are kept safe from any extreme or radical views they encounter because they do not consider this is an appropriate topic for primary school pupils. Pupils and staff are poorly equipped to understand, respond to or calculate risks associated with extreme or intolerant views," the report said.
Inspectors also found that raffles and tombolas were banned at a recent school fete because they were considered un-Islamic, and governors had used the academy's budget to subsidise a trip to Saudi Arabia for only Muslim staff and pupils. "The choice of destination meant that pupils from other faiths were not able to join the trip," the report said.Inspectors also found that raffles and tombolas were banned at a recent school fete because they were considered un-Islamic, and governors had used the academy's budget to subsidise a trip to Saudi Arabia for only Muslim staff and pupils. "The choice of destination meant that pupils from other faiths were not able to join the trip," the report said.
While the school was given outstanding ratings for pupil achievement and teaching, Ofsted graded Oldknow's schools leadership and pupil safety as inadequate, placing it in special measures.While the school was given outstanding ratings for pupil achievement and teaching, Ofsted graded Oldknow's schools leadership and pupil safety as inadequate, placing it in special measures.
Wilshaw made stinging criticisms of Birmingham local authority's role in allowing the situation to develop, saying that his inspectors had seen weaknesses in general oversight of schools in the city.Wilshaw made stinging criticisms of Birmingham local authority's role in allowing the situation to develop, saying that his inspectors had seen weaknesses in general oversight of schools in the city.
"Experienced and successful headteachers have consistently complained about the conduct of governors to the local authority, including about attempts to take control of governing bodies by stealth," Wilshaw said."Experienced and successful headteachers have consistently complained about the conduct of governors to the local authority, including about attempts to take control of governing bodies by stealth," Wilshaw said.
"The local authority has not exercised adequate judgment when nominating governors to maintained schools. The local authority does not routinely assess the suitability of prospective governors and, on at least one occasion, has not listened to concerns raised by headteachers about particular governing body appointments.""The local authority has not exercised adequate judgment when nominating governors to maintained schools. The local authority does not routinely assess the suitability of prospective governors and, on at least one occasion, has not listened to concerns raised by headteachers about particular governing body appointments."