Could Gove 'Effectively Stop' Muslims Becoming School Governors, With 'British Values' Rules?
Could Gove 'Effectively Stop' Muslims Becoming School Governors?
The Huffington Post UK
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YOUNG STUDENTS AT ISLAMIA PRIMARY SCHOOL IN LONDON, THE FIRST MUSLIM SCHOOL IN THE UK TO BE STATE-FUNDED
PETER JORDAN/PA Archive
Hardline new rules for academies and free schools that compel them to promote British values are "dangerous" and could effectively stop Muslims becoming trustees or governors, it has been claimed.
Education Secretary Michael Gove has drawn up funding agreements that will allow him to shut down schools or kick out governors if he believes a member of the academy trust is "unsuitable" because of "relevant conduct", in the wake of the so-called "Trojan Horse" scandal.
Unacceptable actions are defined as anything "aimed at undermining the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs".
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Students at the Islamia Primary School in London, the first state-funded Muslim school in the UK
The Muslim Council of Britain has raised fears that the reforms, which will apply to new academies and free schools, could prevent people with conservative Muslim beliefs viewed as incompatible with "British values" being involved - a claim the Department for Education denies.
Talha Ahmad, a senior member of the MCB, told the Guardian: "As a matter of principle, to have so much power vested in one hand is wrong. But then to have powers over an area over which there is no consensus is, frankly speaking, quite dangerous.
"People may have different views, and those views might be informed by faith. But does that mean the secretary of state should have the power to arbitrate these ideas, so much so that they should not be part of an educational establishment?
"This whole idea of giving the secretary of state the power to decide which views fall foul of British values, on matters such as school governors, seems to be draconian."
In the wake of the Trojan Horse controversy over Islamist influence on some Birmingham schools teachers were told by Gove that they must "actively promote British values".
The Guardian said that sources at the education department have said that school leaders involved in some of the schools in Birmingham, such as the Park View Educational Trust, could be barred from involvement in schools in the future.
The DfE funding agreement sets out how schools must promote respect for the law, democracy, equality and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs.
A DfE spokeswoman said: "There is absolutely no bar to Muslims becoming school governors. We want a diverse range of people, of all faiths and none, to serve on governing bodies.
"It is right that we prevent unsuitable people from becoming governors. We are clear that any behaviour which undermines the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs is incompatible with being a governor in a state-funded school in England."
'Islamic takeover plot' in Birmingham schools alleged(01 of12)
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An alleged plot to oust Birmingham head teachers and make their schools adhere to Islamic principles, dubbed "Operation Trojan Horse", is apparently revealed in a letter seen by the council.These schools are Adderley Primary, Saltley School, Park View School and Regents Park Community Primary School.It said Muslim parents could be encouraged to turn against the leadership team at their child's school if they are told the school is "corrupting their children with sex education, teaching about homosexuals, making their children pray Christian prayers and [carrying out] mixed swimming and sport".It also said non-Muslims teachers could be forced out of the school and gender segregation enforced.The letter claims it has "caused a great amount of organised disruption in Birmingham and as a result we have our own academies and are on the way to getting rid of more head teachers and taking over their schools". (credit:PA)
Letter investigated by counter-terrorism and local council(02 of12)
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The Department for Education'Extremist Unit, Birmingham Council and the West Midlands Police Counter-Terrorism Unit confirmed on March 7th that they are looking into the case, and that they were handed the letter in December 2013.
Schools reject claims of a plot(03 of12)
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David Hughes, a trustee and governor of Park View School for more than 15 years, said on April 10 the secondary was the target of a "witch hunt" and the inspection was "under the pretext of concerns about extremism".But two members of staff at Park View Academy claimed a senior colleague had praised senior Al-Qaeda figure Anwar al-Awlaki during assemblies.It also emerged that the Education Funding Agency had also launched a probe into the school over the misuse of public funds to pay £70,000 for loudspeakers to play the Muslim call to prayer. (credit:PA)
Cameron backs investigation(04 of12)
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The Prime Minister backed Ofsted to deal with the “Trojan Horse” school probe. The inspection body will go on to spring surprise inspections on the schools in question. (credit:Getty Images)
Is the problem widespread?(05 of12)
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On April 14, Birmingham City Council confirmed that it had received over 200 reports from parents and staff at 25 schools in Birmingham. Concerns are also raised by the National Association of Head Teachers about schools in parts of East London and other "large cities around the country". (credit:PA)
Labour says it would appoint standards commissioner to stop extremists in schools(06 of12)
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On May 1st, Labour says it is planning dramatic reforms to the schools system to ensure they cannot be taken over by extremists.Councils would appoint an ‘Independent Director of School Standards’ to monitor schools, according to plans drawn up by David Blunkett, the former Education Secretary who is now advising Labour leader Ed Miliband. (credit:PA)
Department of Education sources brief against Home Office(07 of12)
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Sensational quotes attributed to a Department for Education source in The Times on June 4th detail Michael Gove's concerns about the Home Office's approach to tackling extremism.The source quoted in the Times said: "Charles Farr [the former intelligence chief who runs the office for security and counter terrorism] always believed if extremists become violent we should deal with it. "It has been characterised by others in government as just beating back the crocodiles that come close to the boat rather than draining the swamp." (credit:PA)
Home Office vs Department Of Education(08 of12)
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But Mrs May's camp hit back, with a Home Office source telling The Times: "Why is the DfE wanting to blame other people for information they had in 2010? Lord knows what more they have overlooked on the subject of the protection of kids in state schools? It scares me." (credit:PA)
Home Office releases furious letter to Gove, then quietly deletes it(09 of12)
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A letter from May to the Department of Education attacking her cabinet colleague for failing to tackle Islamic extremism in schools is published on the Home Office website at 2am. But then is quietly deleted. Its publication is attributed to May aide Fiona Cunningham, the partner of Charles Farr. Cabinet correspondence is usually done in private. (credit:PA)
Break it up!(10 of12)
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On June 5, Cameron orders Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood to investigate the row between May and Gove. (credit:Getty Images)
School inspection report leaked(11 of12)
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Ofsted is set to publish its reports on Birmingham schools at the centre of claims about an Islamist takeover plot on Monday 9th. But a report is leaked to the Guardian on June 7th. Park View Academy, which only two years ago was given Ofsted's highest rating of outstanding, will be downgraded according to a leaked copy of the latest inspection report.The school's managing trust has issued a statement rejecting the findings, saying inspectors have misrepresented the facts, adding there was "no suggestion" in the report of extremism being present in classrooms.The academy in Alum Rock in Birmingham has been the focus of allegations made in the original letter.The academy is among three schools run by Park View Educational Trust (PVET), including Golden Hillock School in Sparkhill, which the week before had revealed it is set to be placed in special measures. (credit:PA)
Gove apologises, May aide quits(12 of12)
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Announcing Saturday's developments a Downing Street spokesman said: "In relation to unauthorised comments to the media about the Government's approach to tackling extremism and the improper release of correspondence between ministers, the Prime Minister has received the Cabinet Secretary's review establishing the facts behind these events."In acknowledgement of his role, today, the Secretary of State for Education has written separately to Charles Farr and the Prime Minister apologising for the original comments made to the Times newspaper. In addition, in relation to further comments to the Times, Fiona Cunningham has today resigned."The Prime Minister is taking a specific interest in ensuring this serious matter is being dealt with effectively." (credit:PA)