Six schools in 'Islamist takeover plot' face special measures

SIX Birmingham schools that have allegedly been targeted for takeover by Islamists are expected to be placed in special measures, while less drastic action is to be taken at nine other schools.

A report published by the schools inspectorate, Ofsted, will rate the six schools “inadequate”, according to the Sunday Telegraph. This usually leads to schools being placed in special measures, which gives Ofsted the power to close a school or remove its leadership.

Ofsted launched snap inspections at 17 schools in the Birmingham area after an alleged plot to replace influential figures at secular schools with Islamists came to light. Last month, a letter explaining the so-called ‘Operation Trojan Horse’, allegedly written by a Birmingham Islamist who wanted to spread the techniques to Bradford, was widely circulated in the press.

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The Department for Education launched an investigation which substantiated claims of an organised attempt to Islamise secular schools. The report said that pupils had been illegally segregated at Park View, Nansen and Golden Hillock schools and that there was discrimination against non-Muslim students. Parts of the GCSE syllabus were “restricted” to “comply with conservative Islamic teaching”.

The forthcoming Ofsted reports look to be similarly damning. One source told the SundayTelegraph: “Almost all of the reports to a greater or lesser extent are pointing out flaws in leadership, management or safeguarding driven by an Islamist political ideology.

“Sometimes the flaws are light. In some cases they are very severe. Those to be put in special measures are those where [radical] governors are effectively running the school.”

The reports will be published next month. Park View, Golden Hillock, Nansen. Oldknow and Saltley schools are expected to be rated “inadequate” for leadership and management, the lowest possible ranking. A sixth school, Alston, is already in special measures.

Nine schools will be rated as “requiring improvement” and monitored and supported more closely. They are: Springfield, Adderley, Regents Park, Highfield, Gracelands, Ladypool, Marlborough, Montgomery and Waverley schools.