Investigation Outcome Set To Be Released
The government’s Chief Inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, is set to condemn six Birmingham based schools for “failing to prepare for life in modern Britain.” Ofsted is due to publish the results of it’s investigation in to the so-called ‘Trojan Horse’ affair in which allegations were made about an ‘Islamist plot to subvert schools in the city.’
The report is expected to say that there “was scant evidence of religious extremism on a daily basis in classrooms.” However, claims that schools were homophobic or preached gender discrimination were played down as Ofsted were seen to find less evidence.
Amongst the schools were three that were run by the Park View Academy Trust, which were Park View Academy, Golden Hillock and Nansen Primary School – all which are set to be rated as “inadequate” and placed in special measures. The trust has since been removed from running the schools and its governors have been replaced by the Department of Education.
“In the case of Park View, the inadequate grade would come a little more than two years after Ofsted inspectors rated the school as outstanding in all areas and praised it for its excellent academic results and inclusivity. In the two subsequent years its exam results have improved, but the latest Ofsted evaluation downgrades teaching and achievement.”
Reports have also suggested that the chair of governors at Park View, Tahir Alam, was the ringleader of the plot, a claim that he denied. “I have no idea what this is about. This type of character assassination is very upsetting, and hard to respond to because it comes from anonymous sources, I’ve been involved in education for 17 years. I’m not some sort of hidden character; I have a long track record of working in inner city schools, in disadvantaged areas, to raise standards.”
