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Trojan horse school in Birmingham to be renamed Trojan horse school in Birmingham to be renamed
(35 minutes later)
Park View academy, the Birmingham school at the centre of the Trojan horse allegations of religious infiltration, is to rebrand itself in an attempt to improve its image, as the school celebrates the first signs of official approval for its overhaul.Park View academy, the Birmingham school at the centre of the Trojan horse allegations of religious infiltration, is to rebrand itself in an attempt to improve its image, as the school celebrates the first signs of official approval for its overhaul.
Adrian Packer, the school’s new executive principal, has told parents that a new name for the school is to be voted on by parents and pupils, following a decision by the academy’s governing body, the Park View educational trust, to rename itself the Core education trust. Adrian Packer, the school’s new executive principal, has told parents that a new name for the school is to be voted on by parents and pupils, after the academy’s governing body, the Park View educational trust, decided to rename itself the Core education trust.
Park View was at the centre of a national controversy last year after its leadership was accused of leading a plot by Muslim extremists to take over state schools in Birmingham. The secondary school was deemed “inadequate” by Ofsted inspectors and placed in special measures after a series of investigations were ordered by the then education secretary Michael Gove. Park View was at the centre of a national controversy last year after its leadership was accused of leading a plot by Muslim extremists to take over state schools in Birmingham. The secondary school was deemed “inadequate” by Ofsted inspectors and placed in special measures after a series of investigations were ordered by the then education secretary, Michael Gove.
“The call for a name change has been led by children and the community. They feel the school’s name has become caricatured, in part because of careless and insensitive media reporting. These are children and their future is being affected by this,” said Packer, who took over running the school last September.“The call for a name change has been led by children and the community. They feel the school’s name has become caricatured, in part because of careless and insensitive media reporting. These are children and their future is being affected by this,” said Packer, who took over running the school last September.
“Speaking to parents’ representatives on the governing body, the first thing they said is that we’ve got to look at the name. It’s a pretty universal feeling that we need a new narrative.”“Speaking to parents’ representatives on the governing body, the first thing they said is that we’ve got to look at the name. It’s a pretty universal feeling that we need a new narrative.”
The school’s community will vote on a list of alternatives, with one possibility including naming the school after Shirin Ebadi, the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel peace prize. Park View’s sister school, Nansen primary, is named after Fridtjof Nansen, the Norwegian zoologist and diplomat who won the Nobel peace prize in 1922. The school community will vote on a list of alternatives, with one possibility including naming the school after Shirin Ebadi, the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel peace prize. Park View’s sister school, Nansen primary, is named after Fridtjof Nansen, the Norwegian zoologist and diplomat who won the Nobel peace prize in 1922.
The decision to rename the school comes as Ofsted inspectors gave Park View its first piece of good news since the allegations were first published a year ago. This week Ofsted inspectors gave Park View its first piece of good news since the allegations were first published a year ago.
A report on a monitoring visit by Ofsted, published on Tuesday, found that the school was making “reasonable progress” in its efforts to come out of special measures, having failed to do so in two previous monitoring visits. Ofsted also lifted the bar on the school hiring newly qualified teachers.A report on a monitoring visit by Ofsted, published on Tuesday, found that the school was making “reasonable progress” in its efforts to come out of special measures, having failed to do so in two previous monitoring visits. Ofsted also lifted the bar on the school hiring newly qualified teachers.
Packer said he was delighted by the report, describing it as “very positive news” despite the work that still needed to be done to give the school stability.Packer said he was delighted by the report, describing it as “very positive news” despite the work that still needed to be done to give the school stability.
“It’s good news because it’s a signal that we’re going in the right direction. A year on and we’re finally making progress,” Packer said.“It’s good news because it’s a signal that we’re going in the right direction. A year on and we’re finally making progress,” Packer said.
The Ofsted inspectors faulted the school for its continued reliance on supply teachers and temporary appointments, with a large number of staff having left, being on leave or suspended after the fallout. The Ofsted inspectors faulted the school for its continued reliance on supply teachers and temporary appointments, with a large number of staff having left, being on leave or having been suspended after the fallout. But they praised an improvement in behaviour and the overall quality of teaching.
But the inspectors also praised an improvement in behaviour and the overall quality of teaching.
“The executive principal and trustees are working through well thought-out plans to improve the academy. They have made sensible decisions, including appointing new senior leaders to provide momentum for change. The executive principal is working tirelessly to resolve some of the deep-seated problems,” the inspectors reported.“The executive principal and trustees are working through well thought-out plans to improve the academy. They have made sensible decisions, including appointing new senior leaders to provide momentum for change. The executive principal is working tirelessly to resolve some of the deep-seated problems,” the inspectors reported.
Before the scandal, Ofsted had rated Park View as outstanding. Despite the controversy, the school remains popular locally, with around seven applications for every available place. The school’s 2014 GCSE results placed it in the top 10 nationally for value-added improvement. Before the scandal, Ofsted had rated Park View as outstanding. Despite the controversy, the school remains popular locally, with seven applications for every available place. The school’s 2014 GCSE results placed it in the top 10 nationally for value-added improvement.
After a series of investigation last year the school’s leadership and trustees resigned or were replaced. One of the school’s administered by the Park View trust has now been taken over by the Ark academy chain. After a series of investigations last year the school’s leadership and trustees resigned or were replaced. One of the schools administered by the Park View trust has now been taken over by the Ark academy chain.
A recent report by the House of Commons’ education committee found that apart from a single incident there was “no evidence of extremism or radicalisation” in the Birmingham schools investigated, including Park View. A recent report by the House of Commons education committee found that apart from a single incident there was “no evidence of extremism or radicalisation” in the Birmingham schools investigated, including Park View.