A school in central England has been closed following controversy over its harsh Islamic line and a subsequent assessment by Government inspectors. It has been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks for its treatment of female students and teachers.
A spokesperson for Ofsted, the schools watchdog, told RT: “We
can confirm that Ofsted is currently undertaking a two-day
inspection of the Al-Madinah School in Derby.” The BBC has
reported that it ‘understands’ findings were “so damning”
that the head was forced to immediately shut it down.
The school had previously caused a media sensation in the UK
after it was alleged that it enforced segregation by gender,
meaning girls were forced to sit at the back of the classrooms.
It also reportedly forced female members of staff – including
non-Muslims- to wear the hijab.
The acting headmaster of Al-Madinah in Derby was prompted to shut
the school without delay as the Ofsted assessment was underway,
posting a message on the school’s website:
“Owing to a health and safety issues, I have taken the
decision to close the school to primary and secondary pupils
until I am confident that all children are safe on site,”
said acting Principal Dr. Stuart Wilson.
“As parents, you will be informed directly, and on the website, when you are able to send your children back to school. I expect this to be in the very near future.”
Parents have been gathering outside the school demanding answers.
“Yesterday, I received a one-line letter telling me the school
would be closed but not giving any reasons,” Ali Mohammed,
who has a six year old daughter at the school, told the Derby
Telegraph. “I've come down here to ask some questions. I want
to know what is going on and, if there are health and safety
issues, then I'm very concerned,” he said.
The school, which opened in September 2012, had already been
placed under investigation by the Education Funding Agency; as a
free school, Al Madinah is eligible for public, central
government-funding from the agency, while also being required to
enter its pupils for standardized public examinations, for
example GCSEs – a nationwide exam taken at the age of 16.
Al-Madinah was already on the Department of Education’s radar
prior to the Ofsted investigation. “The Department for
Education said it discussed the school with Ofsted before we
undertook the inspection,” a spokesperson for the watchdog
told RT.
Teachers have recently been coming forward over the harsh
restrictions placed on their attire whilst tutoring in the
classroom. Female teachers have faced particularly harsh
victimization, with one recently quitting amidst a row over her
dress.
A male colleague looked her up and down and told her that she had
failed to observe ‘common decency,’ according to Britain’s Daily
Mail.
“If I had known that it was compulsory for non-Muslim women
staff [to cover up] before I started the job, I would never have
accepted the post,” the anonymous teacher said.
Sue Arguile, of the National Union of Teachers, said that
“Free schools set their own rules – but forcing people to
agree to contractual changes could breach employment law.”
The Education Funding Agency has also been investigating alleged
financial irregularities, according to the BBC.
The wearing of the hijab has been an ongoing source of
controversy in the UK, with even Cameron voicing his support for
a ban on wearing full veils in UK schools. “In a school, it’s
very difficult to teach unless you can look at your pupils in the
eye,” UK Prime Minister David Cameron told the BBC’s Andrew
Marr Show on Sunday.
The niqab face veil is currently banned in France and Belgium,
and debate was sparked last month following the dropping of a ban
at the West-Midlands based Birmingham Metropolitan College amid
protests.