Findings Operation Trojan Horse

1 findings

1.1 government report

1.1.1 detailed findings

1.1.1.1 education , curriculum changes
1.1.1.2 intolerance , racism


1.1.2 park view brotherhood
1.1.3 criticism of birmingham city council


1.2 ofsted , efa findings

1.2.1 park view school
1.2.2 golden hillock school
1.2.3 oldknow academy
1.2.4 nansen primary school
1.2.5 saltley school , specialist science college
1.2.6 olive tree primary school
1.2.7 laisterdyke business , enterprise college


1.3 birmingham city council report

1.3.1 criticism of birmingham city council
1.3.2 extremism
1.3.3 criticism of report

findings
government report

an investigation ordered government found sustained, co-ordinated agenda impose segregationist attitudes , practices of hardline, politicised strain of sunni islam in several birmingham schools. investigation found there no evidence suggest there problem governance nor evidence of terrorism, radicalisation or violent extremism in schools of concern in birmingham, said there evidence there number of people, associated each other , in positions of influence in schools , governing bodies, espouse, sympathise or fail challenge extremist views. found number of governors , senior teachers had been promoting form of islamism or salafism. report identified muslim council of britain , association of muslim schools organisations [stemming] international movement increase role of islam in education .

peter clarke, former counterterrorism chief, conducted investigation gathered , examined 2,000 documents , generated 2,000 pages of interview transcripts 50 witnesses, including former headteachers, teachers, council staff , school governors. said of witnesses had been nervous , anxious. found clear evidence young people encouraged accept unquestionably particular hardline strand of sunni islam raises concerns vulnerability radicalisation in future. described ideology being promoted as: intolerant , politicised form of extreme social conservatism claims represent , seeks control muslims. in separatist assertions , attempts subvert normal processes amounts described islamism.

detailed findings

the report outlined instances of islamism or salafism found in schools. included:

anti-western rhetoric, particularly anti-us , anti-israel;
segregationism – dividing world , them, them include non-muslims , other muslims disagree;
perception of worldwide conspiracy against muslims;
attempts impose views , practices upon others;
intolerance of difference, whether secular, other religions or other muslims.

education , curriculum changes

the report found there had been changes made curriculum , education plans, including increasing faith component. choice of modern language teaching had been restricted study of arabic or urdu @ several schools. @ park view, golden hillock, nansen , oldknow academy, teachers instructed not use images in subject displayed slight intimacy between sexes. investigation found terms such condom, pill , forth have been banned , governors had insisted on islamic approach subjects, such personal, social , health education, science, religious education, , sex , relationships education. governors restricted teaching topics part of department education s prevent strategy, such forced marriage , female genital mutilation. creationism taught fact in school assemblies , science lessons @ both park view , golden hillock. children banned playing musical instruments , drama lessons dropped schedule. art curriculum altered remove full faces or immodest images, such paintings gustav klimt.

intolerance , racism

the report found evidence of intolerance @ several schools toward gay, lesbian, bisexual , transsexual people, , said governors , staff exhibited openly homophobic behaviour. staff wishing discuss lgbt matters lambasted governors.

the investigation found @ anderton park school, after white child joined school, muslim parent instructed staff: white chair , white desk , put white kid in white corner white teacher , keep him away others. if fails rid of white kid. three-year-old in nursery said family poor because jews , zionists had money.

student ambassadors, known religious police appointed @ park view report names of staff or students exhibit behaviours deemed unacceptable conservative muslims .

park view brotherhood

the investigation obtained 3000 messages, spanning 130 pages of transcripts, of private whatsapp discussion between group of teachers @ park view school called park view brotherhood. report stated messages evidenced group had either promoted, or failed challenge, views grossly intolerant of beliefs , practices other own.

the discussions contained: explicit homophobia, highly offensive comments british service personnel, stated ambition increase segregation @ school, disparagement of muslims in sectors other own, scepticism truth of reports of murder of lee rigby , boston marathon bombing , constant undercurrent of anti-western, anti-america , anti-israel sentiment. group promoted links extremist speakers betrayed islamist approach denied validity of alternative belief , , group members believed murder of lee rigby staged encouraged other members promulgate view.

figures in group included park view headmaster mozz hussain, deputy head of nansen primary razwan faraz (brother of convicted terrorist ahmed faraz) , shahid akmal, chairman of governors @ nansen. in discussion on 5 february 2014, samir rauf, teacher @ oldknow , governor @ small heath school, revealed group s favoured candidate had become head teacher @ small heath. nasim awan, governor @ springfield, said first agenda item should apply islamic assemblies @ secular school. faraz replied saying new head has establish herself minimum controversy first 6 months , referring starting eventual islamising agenda , @ same time ensuring new head not become coconut in process. participant in discussion said jews (emphasis in original) making websites false information on quran, while akhmed hussein, deputy head of carlton bolling college in bradford wrote “al-islam prevail on other ways of life. @ how [the] muslim population increasing in uk.”

criticism of birmingham city council

the report concluded based on examination of emails , correspondence: there incontrovertible evidence both senior officials , elected members of birmingham council aware of activities bear striking resemblance described in trojan horse letter many months before surfaced.

it said council had been aware of extremist activities end of 2012, , discussions had taken place between officials july 2013, half year before emergence of trojan horse letter. yet, 8 weeks after letter received there no systematic attempt deal issue. instead, report concluded, council focused on community cohesion. said there never serious effort ascertain happening in school governing bodies, , council s approach had been described 1 of appeasement , failure in duty of care towards employees.

ofsted , efa findings

investigations ofsted , education funding authority in 21 schools found evidence of organised campaign target schools islamists.

golden hillock school, nansen primary school, park view academy - run park view educational trust - oldknow academy , saltley school placed in special measures after inspectors found systemic failings including schools having failed take adequate steps safeguard pupils against extremism. school investigated, alston primary, in special measures. sixth school labelled inadequate poor educational standards , twelve schools found needing of improvements. 3 schools commended.

ofsted expressed concerns exclusively muslim culture in non-faith schools , children not being taught develop tolerant attitudes towards other faiths . inspections found head teachers have been marginalised or forced out of jobs . ofsted found curriculum being narrowed reflect personal views of few governors . teachers reported unfair treatment because of gender or religious beliefs. ofsted found breakdown of trust between governors , staff , family members had been appointed unadvertised senior leadership posts

parkview education trust found in breach of education funding agreement failing promote social cohesion, failing promote social, moral, spiritual, , cultural development of pupils, failing promote balanced political treatment of issues, , failure comply safeguarding issues concerning criminal records checks.

park view school

at park view school ofsted reported students not taught citizenship enough or prepared life in multi-cultural , diverse society.”

the efa inspection found classroom culture not welcoming non-muslim pupils. described madrassa curriculum , reported posters written in quranic arabic in of classrooms visited. posters found in classrooms encouraging children begin lessons muslim prayer, 1 saying: “if not pray, worse kafir”, , staff reported loudspeakers set in school broadcast call prayer. few pupils elected study christianity unit part of religious studies gcse course had teach , because teacher focused on islamic studies majority studying.

year 11 pupils sit gcses @ school instructed partake in islamic fast, taking neither food nor drink, place them in right “spiritual frame of mind” exams. additionally, students expected fast during month of ramadan. staff @ school expressed fear neither eating nor drinking amid high temperatures during 18 hours of daylight in months of june , july compromise pupils’ health , ability learn.

the sexes segregated in classrooms , boys , girls suspected of being friendly towards each other disciplined. department education inspection found seating arrangements boys sitting towards front of class , girls @ or around sides . annual sports event boys , girls scheduled in different days. girls claimed have been discriminated against , said sent home tennis tournament because dress revealing .

subjects such personal, social , health education, biology , sex , relationships education bowdlerised conform conservative islamic teaching. pupils studying biology not taught section of syllabus reproduction , teacher stated when briefly outlining evolution not believe . former staff member said 1 teacher had handed out worksheet stating women “must obey husbands,” , told class wives forbidden refusing husbands sex.

a former teacher @ school reported current head teacher, monzoor hussain, expressed “mind-blowing” anti-american views @ school assemblies, describing “source of evil in world . in school assemblies, former staff alleged senior teacher praised anwar al-awlaki, al-qaeda recruiter had been involved @ least 3 major terror attacks, , referred non-muslims “kuffar”, insulting term infidel. teacher used school facilities copy osama bin laden dvds. external speakers improperly vetted. extended islamic assembly year 10 , 11 pupils arranged sheikh shady al-suleiman, extremist preacher has called on god “destroy enemies of islam”, give victory mujahideen on world , prepare jihad .

a head of department @ school, inam ul haq anwar, posted on facebook in support of alleged islamist extremists, including 1 been imprisoned after being convicted of 11 counts of possessing , disseminating terrorist publications. abid ali, head of extra-curricular activities @ school, posted flyer advertising meeting in birmingham in raising muslim children in west discussed. flyer said natural parents seek protect our children values of secular culture inculcating within our children pristine values of islam. wrote online: need muslim khalifa [movement]. people of imaan [faith] , prepared defend our muslim ummah [nation]. 1 ummah. mohammed’s ummah. 1 deep islam. fighting save our religion zalims [tyrants].

a teacher park view school reported police after broke female pupil’s mobile telephone prove having “forbidden” relationship boy. 16-year-old girl s phone confiscated teacher during sunday event , taken shop passcode broken, , contents examined school. texts , images of girl boy, fellow year 11 pupil @ park view, used justify girl s suspension weeks before gcse exams.

golden hillock school

golden hillock school in sparkhill, birmingham, put under special measures ofsted on 5 june 2014, after being rated inadequate in categories. inspection said little done keep students safe risks associated extremist views . ofsted report stated students understanding of other religions scant religious education curriculum focuses on study of islam , said there perceived unfairness , lack of transparency on appointments school , female members of staff had felt intimidated. governors @ school banned discussions regarding sexual orientation , intimacy. affected teaching of english, art, religious education , personal, social , health education. staff prevented teaching sex , relationships advice freely aspects of safeguarding , child protection.

forced segregation of genders observed @ golden hillock , mandated in departmental policy documents.

on 9 june 2014, lord nash, parliamentary under secretary of state schools, wrote tahir alam concerning ofsted , efa reports , outlined actions required school.

in august 2014, principal hardeep saini replaced interim principal. 2 other senior teachers have been suspended.

in july 2015, ofsted stated golden hillock still inadequate.

at tribunal held in october , november 2015, mr saini accused of advising teacher had been arrested having extreme pornography throw mobile phone canal make sure there no problem.

as of september 2015, golden hillock school rebranded ark boulton academy after being taken on ark academy chain.

oldknow academy

ofsted found small group of governors endeavouring promote particular , narrow faith-based ideology in maintained , non-faith academy. staff afraid speak out significant changes. ofsted stated school had failed protect students risks of radicalisation , extremism . school s curriculum deemed inadequate because did not promote tolerance , harmony between different cultural traditions.

the education funding agency (efa) found school lacked balanced , broad curriculum , saw several subjects marginalised. found non-muslim staff banned assemblies in children preached @ , told white women prostitutes . children urged join in anti-christian chants. exchange visits nearby churches had been curtailed. efa team concluded: saw evidence oldknow academy acting faith school , not making active efforts make academy attractive faith denominations including pupils of no faith.

segregation found in 1 classroom girls sitting @ heads covered. school had spent £50,000 on 3 subsidised trips saudi arabia pupils visit cities of mecca , medina in efa described “an extravagant use of public funds”. pupils , staff stayed in luxury five-star hotels. contracts taxpayer-funded school trips never underwent formal tender process, , instead travel firm used close links current teacher , former director of school. 3 years running non-muslim pupils , staff excluded these trips. christmas events cancelled , raffles , tombolas banned @ recent school fete because considered un-islamic. summer play criticised staff use of musical instruments” , teacher observed covering ears during music lesson. staff members admonished girls not partake in school extracurricular visits , activities.

oldknow s deputy principal mazhar hussain al maazari posted comment on facebook saying, not love 1 not love allah . belal ballali, spokesman oldknow academy parents’ association, reported have close links alleged terrorists. samir rauf, teacher @ oldknow , governor @ birmingham school, small heath, campaigned in support of babar ahmad, islamic extremist extradited u.s. , imprisoned there after pleading guilty ‘conspiracy , providing material support terrorism’. member of educational activists group of leader, razwan faraz, says, pursues “islamising agenda” in birmingham state schools.

during tribunal emerged photo of white person shown students example of christians like. students told un-islamic have pet dog.

nansen primary school

pupils had limited knowledge of religion apart islam. effective strategies not in place deal extremism , “governance, safety, pupils’ cultural development, equal opportunities , teaching of religious education inadequate”. ofsted found governing body has removed subjects, such music, timetable. inspectors found no humanities, arts or music taught in year 6 , limited teaching of these subjects in year 5. deputy head of nansen primary school, razwan faraz, leads group called “educational activists” says introduces “islamising agenda” in birmingham state schools. worked charity believed have links terrorist organisations.

saltley school , specialist science college

ofsted found governing body interfered running of saltley school , undermined work of senior leaders. criticised spending of school s budget on paying private investigators investigate emails of senior staff , paying meals in restaurants.

olive tree primary school

the government ordered inspection of olive tree school following comments head, abdul qadeer baksh, in ideal islamic state, homosexuality punishable death.

an ofsted inspection found islamic school, shares premises mosque, had books in library content had no place in british society . books contained fundamentalist views , promoted executions, stoning , lashing appropriate punishments. books available children included 1 advocated parents hitting children if did not pray age of 10 , praised individuals loved death more life in pursuit of righteous , true religion. additionally, inspection stated there few books world s major religions other islam. senior leaders did not ensure balanced views of world taught , contact different cultures, faiths , traditions limited promote tolerance , respect views, lifestyles , customs of other people. school rated inadequate .

laisterdyke business , enterprise college

during inspection @ laisterdyke business , enterprise college in bradford, muslim secondary school, pupils forced revise gcse exams outside in street staff did not want them have opportunity speak inspectors.

after resisting attempts governors impose islamic ethos, teachers suspended , principal, jennifer mcintosh, , deputy, faced attempts oust them. alleged teachers governors sought hire trojan horse ringleader tahir alam , model school on park view school in birmingham. governors of school sacked in april because of inappropriate interference in running of school.

birmingham city council report

the report commissioned birmingham city council , compiled former head teacher, ian kershaw, concluded school governors , teachers had tried promote , enforce radical islamic values , found evidence of extremism in 13 schools. said manipulative governors had been determined introduce unacceptable practices , deny students broad , balanced education. found evidence 5 steps destabilise school s leadership, outlined in original trojan horse letter, present in large number of schools considered part of investigation. said evidence pointed group of british male governors , teachers, predominantly of pakistani heritage .

the investigation, however, did not find evidence of conspiracy promote violent extremism or radicalisation values.

criticism of birmingham city council

mr kershaw stated council had been slow respond allegations in letter , said there culture within of not wanting address difficult issues , problems school governance risk of incurring accusations of racism or islamophobia. report said extremism went unchallenged council prioritised community cohesion on doing right .

extremism

the report found attempts made introduce sharia law in schools. there posters in schools warning children if didn t pray, go hell . girls taught not refuse sex husbands, , punished angels dusk dawn if did. teachers taught children @ park view academy muslim women must wear hijab , tie hair.

in incident referred counter-terrorism police, teacher told pupils @ golden hillock school not listen christians liars . teacher told children lucky muslims , not ignorant christians , jews.

at nansen school, islamic religious assemblies introduced , christmas , diwali celebrations cancelled. study of french replaced arabic. @ oldknow academy, children asked whether believed in christmas , encouraged chant no don t in response. pupils told @ assembly not send christmas cards , mary not mother of jesus.

kershaw revealed mps @ commons select committee on education in september 2014 @ 1 school “a film violent extremism” shown children.

criticism of report

russell hobby, general secretary of national association of head teachers said organisation not endorse report. said conclusions did not reflect full reality in schools, , discrepancies between , governmental report regrettable , unhelpful . said birmingham city council had limited process , terms of reference in way excludes critical evidence , had employed narrow definition of extremism , governmental report had reached different set of conclusions accessing different evidence base.