Anti-Terror Chief To Probe 'Muslim School Plot'

The appointment of an anti-terror chief to investigate 'a Muslim school infiltration plot' is branded "desperately unfortunate".




Park View Academy in Birmingham is one of the schools being investigated


A former anti-terror chief has been appointed to investigate allegations of a hardline Islamist takeover plot of Birmingham schools, sparking criticism it would send the wrong message.
One of Britain's top police officers said Michael Gove's appointment of Peter Clarke, previously head of the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism unit, was "desperately unfortunate".
Mr Clarke, who led the investigation into the July 7 bombings, is to work with Birmingham City Council to "analyse evidence of extremist infiltration in both academies and council-run schools".
West Midlands Chief Constable Chris Sims said: "This is a desperately unfortunate appointment. Peter Clarke has many qualities but people will inevitably draw unwarranted conclusions from his former role as national co-ordinator for counter terrorism.
"I am a strong supporter of open and inclusive education for all children in Birmingham and across the West Midlands and am committed to the process adopted by Birmingham City Council with educational and social inclusion at its heart."


Education Secretary Michael Gove is 'extremely concerned' about the claims
 
Mr Clarke's appointment comes the day after it emerged 25 schools were being investigated over an alleged Muslim extremist plot, called Operation Trojan Horse, to force out governors and headteachers.
Whistleblowers - including former staff - have made a number of allegations against schools in Birmingham since the accusations came to light, including one claim the teachings of an al-Qaeda-linked preacher were praised in front of pupils.
Other complaints include the alleged segregation of boys and girls in lessons and assemblies, a ban on sex education and bullying of non-Muslim staff.
Mr Gove said he was "extremely concerned" about the allegations that first emerged when an anonymous letter detailing the scheme was leaked.
He said: "These allegations need either to be substantiated and firm action taken, or to be shown to be baseless.
"We cannot allow uncertainty for parents or pupils to persist.”
Ofsted is inspecting a number of schools of concern.
Birmingham City Council is setting up a review group and has already announced it is appointing a new chief adviser to handle at least 200 complaints relating to Operation Trojan Horse.
Mr Clarke is due to report back with his findings on the city’s 430 schools in the summer.
Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, Labour's Bob Jones, said: "This appointment gives the clear impression that the issues around Trojan Horse are predominantly around counter-terrorism issues."
Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore, said: "Peter Clarke will need to give careful consideration to building a strong relationship with us and, given his recent counter-terrorism responsibilities in London, ensure that his investigation does not undermine the confidence of our communities."

A governor of a Birmingham school under investigation over allegations of an Islamist takeover plot is questioning the fairness of recent Ofsted inspections.

Up to 18 schools are being looked at by the education watchdog amid allegations that hard-line Muslims are trying to seize control of schools in the city.

The man, who wants to remain anonymous, told Sky News he believed inspectors had come into the school with preconceptions about education there.

"The questioning was very inappropriate compared to a normal Ofsted. They asked us, on both occasions, 'If a child is gay, what would you do?' and questions like that were pushed to a long duration.

"One other question was about who leads the prayers. 'Why do you have prayers?' ... They were more focused on specific religious aspects within the school, not with the day-to-day running, safeguarding and the performance of the school."

Around 25 schools in Birmingham are also being investigated by the city council and the Department for Education.

Their inquiries come after an unsigned, undated letter was published claiming to outline "Operation Trojan Horse", a blueprint to help conservative Muslims take control of schools.

The allegations include gender segregation in schools, discrimination against non-Muslim staff and pupils, and the introduction of Islamic ideologies into the curriculum.

The governor, from an unnamed school, also said that if education in schools had been tweaked, it may have been because they had the freedom to do so when becoming academies.

He said: "The whole purpose of academies is to give more flexibility to schools, so if schools choose to, depending on their demographic, to be more Christian, Islam, Sikh, or have more Arabic classes ... the flexibility is there because of the model.

"You can't really condemn the schools for what they're allowed to do."

The head of Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw, is expected to visit Birmingham to take personal charge and finalise reports of the inspections before their publication.

Chris Keates, from the teaching union the NASUWT, says there should not be three separate investigations and that bringing Sir Michael Wilshaw in was the wrong approach

She said: "What you actually need is not an approach that is starting from the point of view of trying to find fault with schools. Ofsted's reputation with schools is one of creating a climate of fear and it's a punitive reputation.

"People need to go in with an open mind ... We need a clear investigation that actually is going to get to the bottom of what are the facts of the situation. All we have had so far is a lot of speculation and now numerous investigations."

The Ofsted reports are due at the beginning of May while the outcome of the investigations being carried out by Birmingham City Council and the Department of Education are expected before the end of July.

Trojan Horse Report: There Was Islamist Plot

  Tuesday 22 July 2014


Park View School in Birmingham was at the centre of the allegations





There is "clear evidence" of an Islamist takeover plot at Birmingham schools, a Government-led inquiry has found.
School groups and governors were involved in "co-ordinated, deliberate and sustained action" to instil an "intolerant and aggressive Islamist ethos" at some city schools, a report by the former head of the Metropolitan Police Counter-Terrorism Unit Peter Clarke has concluded.
Commenting on his findings, Mr Clarke voiced concerns the infiltration of the city schools by hardline Islamist groups could lead to the radicalisation of students in the future.
He said Birmingham City Council had failed to do anything about widespread concerns over the takeover and that senior officers were aware of the problems as early as 2012 but did not act


Golden Hillock School is now in special measures


Concerns over so-called "Trojan Horse" practices were set out in a letter written in November 2013 and handed to Birmingham City Council. It was passed to the Home Office in January and then the Department for Education.
The letter was leaked to the media at the beginning of the year, sparking public concern, but the report found the council knew about the problem "long before the letter surfaced".
It set out how Islamists were identifying schools for takeover, targeting sympathetic parents and then installing their own governors, head teachers and staff, ousting incumbents with PR campaigns.
While the council dismissed the letter as a hoax, Mr Clarke said the Trojan Horse practices it detailed were accurate, saying there was evidence teachers were bullied and intimidated and those who didn't conform made the subject of governor complaints.


Dave Hughes, former vice chairman of Park View Education Trust.

 
He said in a number of cases head teachers who raised concerns were drummed out of their positions, one accused of Islamophobia, and their concerns were second to those of governors.
At Park View Academy, one of the schools at the centre of the plot, the report found teachers had been referred to as the "Park View Brotherhood".
The council was more concerned with the impact on community cohesion than the effect on education, the report found.
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said the report's conclusions were "disturbing" and the Department of Education would "take action to put things right".


In the spotlight: Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore

 
A report in 21 of Birmingham schools by the schools inspectorate Ofsted last month found there was a "culture of fear and intimidation" and that governors had exerted an "inappropriate influence" over how they were run.
As a result Park View Academy, its sister academy Golden Hillock and Nansen Primary School - all run by the Park View Educational Trust - were put into special measures.
Oldknow School, a primary school, and Saltley, a secondary school, which are overseen by Birmingham City Council, are also in special measures.
Last week Park View Educational Trust chairman Tahir Alam and the entire board of trustees resigned.