'A Coordinated Agenda To Impose Hardline Islam In Schools'
The Huffington Post UK
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Key individuals were "promoting and encouraging certain Islamic principles" in Birmingham classrooms amid poor oversight from education chiefs, a city council investigation into the alleged "Trojan Horse" takeover plot has found.
The findings of the Birmingham City Council inquiry carried out by Ian Kershaw and published today, concluded that governors, deputy and acting headteachers, trustees and parents were involved in a pattern of behaviour "moving between schools in the area".
In a 151-page report, Mr Kershaw concluded: "The evidence shows individuals have been seeking to promote and encourage Islamic principles in the schools with which they are involved, by seeking to introduce Islamic collective worship, or raising objections to elements of the school curriculum that are viewed as anti-Islamic."
His report comes on the day a leaked draft of former Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism chief Peter Clarke's own investigation, commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE), concluded there was a "sustained, co-ordinated agenda to impose segregationist attitudes and practices of a hardline, politicised strain of Sunni Islam".
Mr Kershaw's report said the problems had been allowed to run "unchecked" due to what he branded "weaknesses in the system and poor oversight of governance" mainly by the city council, but also by Ofsted, the Education Funding Agency and the DfE.
Its findings concluded that "elements" of the so-called "Trojan Horse" five-step plan to seize control of governing boards were present in 13 schools, including the three academies of Park View Educational Trust (PVET), which has been at the centre of the allegations.
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The school mired in the Islamist "Trojan Horse" controversy
However, he said: "There is no evidence of a conspiracy to promote an anti-British agenda, violent extremism or radicalisation in schools in east Birmingham."
He added: "There is little express evidence to which I can point of a systematic plot or co-ordinated plan to take over schools serving students of a predominantly Muslim faith or background."
The Trojan Horse claims originally stemmed from an anonymous and unsigned letter sent to the media, unions and the council alleging there was a plot by hardline Muslims called "Operation Trojan Horse", to take over school governing bodies in the city and force out uncooperative staff.
The saga has triggered four inquiries, including on-going investigations by the DfE and the city council, and even sparked a political row in the cabinet. In the aftermath, Prime Minister David Cameron has backed the promotion of "British values" in schools.
A public meeting is being held in the city next week for the parents and communities affected by the fall-out from Trojan Horse, with former chief education officer for Birmingham and London schools commissioner Sir Tim Brighouse due to speak.
Here's a handy timeline of the scandal:
Operation Trojan Horse: Timeline
'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)