'Failures Were Made' At Birmingham Schools

Education Secretary Michael Gove says the Government will consult on new rules to require schools to "actively promote British values".

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Gove told MPs the findings of inspections by Ofsted into 21 Birmingham schools needed a "robust but considered response".

He acknowledged that there had been "a failure in the past" to address concerns about extremism, adding that the school inspection regime should be strengthened.

"There are questions for Birmingham Council, Ofsted and the Department of Education. I am also concerned that the DofE may not have acted when it should," he said.

"We all must acknowledge that there has been a failure in the past ... But no government has done more to attack extremism than this government."

He added: "We will put the promotion of British values at the heart of what every school has to deliver for children."

Mr Gove's comments come after Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw said schools in Birmingham were being run under a "culture of fear and intimidation".

Park View Academy has gone from 'outstanding' to 'inadequate'

He said successful head teachers had been forced out of their posts or "marginalised", leaving a "vacuum" leading to "a collapse in morals and a rapid decline".

The "steep and sudden decline" meant schools which were recently judged outstanding by inspectors were now found inadequate, he said.

In addition governors were exerting "far more influence on the day to day running of these schools than is either appropriate or acceptable".

Ofsted inspected 21 schools across Birmingham after allegations of an attempted takeover of the city's schools by Islamist extremists. Five have now been placed in special measures as a result.

Sir Michael said: "Some of our findings are deeply worrying and in some ways quite shocking, while a number of these schools are doing well and providing their children with a good, well-rounded education, there are others that give cause for grave concern.

"In the most serious cases, a culture of fear and intimidation has taken grip since the schools were last inspected. We found evidence that some head teachers, including those with a proud record of raising standards, have been marginalised or forced out of their jobs.

"This has left a vacuum in which schools previously rated good or outstanding have suffered enormous staff turbulence, a collapse in morale and a rapid decline in their overall effectiveness."

Golden Hillock has also been placed in special measures

He said that a number of head teachers had "reported that there's been an organised campaign to target certain schools in Birmingham in order to impose a narrow faith-based ideology and alter the schools character and ethos."

Inspectors found schools were not taking seriously enough their duty to protect children from extremism and radicalisation. One school had even invited a speaker known for their extremist views to give a talk.

Teachers reported  they were being treated unfairly because of their sex or religion and that boys and girls were not treated equally.

Sir Michael also placed significant levels of blame at the door of Birmingham City Council saying it had reacted too slowly.

He said: "Our evidence points to a serious failure on the part of Birmingham City Council, a failure to support schools in their efforts to keep pupils safe from the risk of extremism."

He has made a number of recommendations including better training for governors, better vetting of governors and a register of interests.

Schools will also be issued with guidance on what a broad and balanced curriculum should be.

David Hughes says inspections were carried out in a 'climate of suspicion'

Sir Michael's recommendations could raise big questions for Mr Gove's Free and Academy schools project, which gives schools more freedom over what they teach.

Speaking in the House of Commons after the publication of the reports the Home Secretary Theresa May said: "We need to do everything we can to protect children from extremism."

The vice chairman of the Park View Education Trust, which runs three of the schools put in special measures - Park View Academy, Golden Hillock and Nansen primary - has hit back saying the schools do not "promote extremism".

David Hughes said: "Ofsted inspectors came to our schools looking for extremism, looking for segregation, looking for proof that our children have religion forced upon them as part of an Islamic plot."

He said they would be mounting a legal challenge against Ofsted's findings.

The other two schools placed in special measures were Saltley and Oldknow.

David Cameron has ordered Education Secretary Michael Gove to carry out  "dawn raids" on the schools, which have been accused of covering up evidence of infiltration.

It comes after a row erupted between Mr Gove and Mrs May after the Education Secretary said the Home Office had failed to properly deal with extremism.

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