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The voice at the end of the phone quietens, then all I hear is the muffled sound of crying.

Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson is the unrepentant but increasingly exhausted and bruised head teacher of Anderton Park School, a primary school in the eye of an angry storm over when the existence and equality of gay people should be shared with kids.

Her school, highly praised by Ofsted for its community ethos, and hailed by the city council as 'the leading light in Birmingham for its equalities work", sits in the heart of one of the city's most diverse communities.

The school's motto is Relationships, Determination, Sparkle! It sums up the love and wit that emanates from the classrooms and corridors.

A tribute to Jo Cox, the MP murdered by a white extremist, adorns a space in a communal lounge area, her message "We have more in common than that which divides us" writ large on a wall.

(Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)

"I have friends who are girls and friends who are boys - I like them all the same!" declares one delightful message among dozens, written by pupils, stuck up in a corridor.

The kids here are unfailingly polite and welcoming.

They are drawn mostly from the neighbouring terraced streets of Balsall Heath, Sparkhill and Sparkbrook, red brick Victorian rows and maisonettes housing families and young professionals, students and pensioners, of all ethnicities, cultures and colours.

(Image: Anderton Park School)

Around 80% of the 700 pupils are of the Muslim faith.

Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson has been at the helm of the school for over six years.

Not long out of special measures when she took up the headship, it is rated 'good with outstanding features' - testimony to the dedication of her committed staff, around half of them Muslim.

Yet over the past three months she has been on the receiving end of a deeply personalised campaign, led by local activist Shakeel Afsar, seemingly aiming to force her out and break her will - all in the name of tolerance.

The campaign reached its nadir on Friday, when 300 campaign supporters streamed into the tiny cul-de-sac to show their opposition to the school and to demand an end to equality teaching around LGBT.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

The head's apparent failure to suspend all talk in school about LGBT equality while 'collective consultation' takes place is cited as the reason for wanting her gone.

During the course of a fraught afternoon, Mr Afsar took to a PA system, in clear defiance of a council warning letter, to describe the head as "a shame of a teacher" and to lead chants demanding she stands down.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

Buoyed by the large support, he compared what he called 'this attack on family values and morals' to the bombs raining down on Muslim heads in other parts of the world. He went so far as to insinuate that the head was 'probably having a sexual relationship' with a 'biased' female journalist.

Worse was to come.

Abdullah Bahm, a Muslim preacher from Batley in Yorkshire, was invited to take the mic.

He took the opportunity to point to the school and declare "there are paedophiles in there, paedophiles in there" and said the equality messages the school was sharing were part of a "paedophile agenda."

He held up images, including a cartoon of a near-naked couple, claiming, falsely, they were in books shared with four and five year olds.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

A Christian from Bournemouth also took to the mic, throwing out alleged statistics about sexual disease and gay lifestyles.

He'd earlier told me that talking about gay equality was confusing for little children, relaying the anecdote of a girl afraid to pick up and hold her friend's hand after a fall 'in case she was called a lesbian'.

These were not quiet voices speaking in anonymity in a WhatsApp group or at a private gathering.

These were comments shared loudly and proudly at the barred gates of a primary school, in full view of national media and around a dozen West Midlands Police officers.

(Image: Birmingham Live)

There was no police intervention. No cautions. No arrests.

Mrs Hewitt-Clarkson had earlier taken the decision to close the school at noon to ensure children and her staff were away from the area before the nationally advertised protest got into full swing. This was presented at the rally as an underhand move to try to thwart protestors.

After ensuring her staff were away, she drove herself from the school at around 1pm.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

I called her at around 5pm, after the protesters had long drifted away, to ask her for a reaction to what had unfolded. Her response was subdued, and laced with a desperate sadness.

"I really do not know what to say about what's happened - it has gone beyond comment," she said.

"It's a very sad state of affairs - no, it's much worse than that, it's disgusting, it's homophobic, it's anti Birmingham.

"It is shameful."

Then she broke down.

The view from the other side of the gates

By now almost anyone with an interest in education and LGBT equality knows the name of this little school, due to the efforts of campaign coordinator Shakeel Afsar, a 32 year old property developer and private landlord.

He does not have children at the school himself and has said that because of this recent experience he intends to send his own daughters, aged four and one, to a Muslim faith school.

But he is uncle to two Anderton Park pupils.

Mr Afsar says tears have been shed over this issue in his household and his community too.

"My sister came to me, distraught that her children were being told things that are contrary to our values and beliefs. She was crying. Other parents have cried too. They are frightened and anxious.

"The head introduced this without consulting us first. She did not seem to care how difficult this was and that it was not in line with our family values. It was confusing," says Mr Afsar.

In the weeks since, the head has met with dozens of parents at one-to-one meetings to discuss any fears and concerns and explain what is being said.

(Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)

She has produced a 'grid' circulated to all parents showing the words used in conversation. She has issued more than a dozen newsletters on the topic. More than a dozen more one-to-ones with parents are in her diary.

But this is not enough for the campaign leaders, whose demands include collective consultation with all parents - including their mandated leader Mr Afsar.

The two met in Mrs Hewitt-Clarkson's office earlier this year.

Mr Afsar's demeanor that day has been described as 'confrontational' by the head.

She recalled: "He slammed his hands down on the desk, and said I had to stop these lessons and consult with the parents. He told me he was a general in the Kashmiri liberation movement."

The already fraught relationship between the two deteriorated further as the rhetoric around the issue began to ramp up.

Amir Ahmed, who had been instrumental in a campaign to shut down an LGBT equality programme across the city at Parkfield School, a primary in Alum Rock, offered his support.

Mrs Hewitt-Clarkson refused to meet with either of them.

She said: "They were not parents of children at this school, were intimidating and confrontational. And there are no lessons to stop.

"We don't 'teach' about LGBT equality, no more than we 'teach' about race or disability equality. We weave equality messages into the everyday."

(Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)

Mr Afsar told the protest on Friday: "The parents are saying our morals and family values are being infringed on. We will stand up against this as long as we have to.

"We are sending our most prized possessions into a school where they are messing with our children's heads. I will not stand by, I will not sit back."

His mother and father Najib - a prominent member of the local Kashmiri community and the founder of a Kashmiri Liberation organisation and TV channel - said they fully supported their son.

Said his mother: "People keep saying we are homophobic. We are not homophobic. Some parents say things like disgusting (about LGBT) but they are not using the right language, it is a language thing. That's why Shakeel has helped.

"We say the children are too young to learn about this. Wait until they are at secondary school."

(Image: Birmingham Mail/Darren Quinton)

Her son told the rally: "The media are twisting our words against us. They show sheer intolerance towards our community.

"They expect us to be tolerant and respectful but the LGBT community and the head teacher want to force their narrative on to us.

"They want to strip us of our family beliefs, strip us of our family values - and when we don't agree they call us homophobic. Absolute nonsense."

Not all parents support the protests. A mass withdrawal of pupils organised by Mr Afsar was supported by around half the parents.

Muslim mum Emma Nicholson, 35, whose children aged nine and seven attend the school, said: "Us Muslims are the first people to preach equality. To be honest it goes against my morals and my values but I understand the school has to teach equality and teach the children to respect others regardless of race, gender, ethnicity and so on.

"There are a lot of parents in the playground that stand with the school but don't come forward because of the backlash they will get from other parents in the community.

(Image: Tracy A)

"I hope after half term this will have stopped. They want the school to mediate - but their version of mediation is for the school to stop this completely, they want the school not to talk about gay people."

Muslim resident Nina Nazir, who has a niece and nephew at the school, said: "This must be so disturbing for the children. I think this is another thing Muslims don't need.

"I feel sad this is happening and I feel sorry for the head teacher and teachers trying to do their job.

"This is a liberal country. I'm pretty sure most people here (at the protest) are peaceable and friendly members of the community but they are being provoked in some way.

"Islam is not a homophobic religion, the centre of the religion is 'love thy neighbour' but this (protesting) is divisive and contrary to that and I do not support it at all."

(Image: Birmingham Mail/Darren Quinton)

Respected Islamic scholar Dr Amra Bone, the first female sharia judge in the country, sought to clarify the underlying context for concern.

In Islam, marriage is only possible between a man and woman and sexual relations are only permitted in the context of marriage, she said.

"In Islam, God guides human beings to marry, which is described as a wholesome way of life."

But she also emphasised that confrontation over differences was not the way forward and it was not for Muslims to judge others. Only God can judge, she said.

One Muslim friend explained the crux of the issue more succinctly: "Homosexuality is viewed in Islam as a choice and a lifestyle. Because it is viewed as 'haram' (prohibited) then it is the duty of parents is to ensure this is not a 'choice' or 'lifestyle' that is attractive to their children. For some parents, the prospect that their child might be gay is just unacceptable."

The protesters appear to have won backing from local Labour MP Roger Godsiff, who intervened for the first time last week to proclaim that he too felt that four and five year olds were 'too young' to hear about and learn about LGBT families and equality.

He said he had based his comments on a dossier of evidence shared with his personal assistant by Mr Afsar, and a single meeting with the head teacher. He also said he had not witnessed any of the protests.

He said he had "concerns" about the appropriateness of teaching children aged four and five about the existence and equality of same sex families.

He also questioned whether it was a good thing to introduce books like The Princess Boy, featuring a boy who liked to wear princess dresses, and Mummy, Mama and Me, starring a child with two mummies, to little children. He said he "understood" why people had issues with "this type of material."

He said the head needed to be more 'sensitive' because some local families had difficulty accepting equality legislation because of their religious beliefs.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

Ms Hewitt-Clarkson decried his comments as unhelpful and based on misinformation.

While seething about what she sees as his lack of support, she has also been furious about the lack of clarity from the Department of Education around this crucial point.

The way legislation has been drafted and the 'confusing' comments made from Westminster by the Education Secretary has left her vulnerable and open to attack, she says.

She said: "For me it's simple. All of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act should be treated equally. Parents cannot be allowed to pick and choose which part of the Equality Act they can and cannot have."

(Image: Honor Bridgman)

Birmingham City Council has said there is 'no place' for these protests in the city.

It has so far issued a warning letter against Mr Afsar - largely ignored at Friday's protest - and says it is looking at every other option available to it.

"It cannot be right that schools are forced to close early and be subject to such vile threats and intimidation."

West Midlands Police say they are continuing to investigate alleged criminal activity including 'malicious communications' sent to the head.

But at the time of writing there had been no police action taken to curb the protests.

Mr Afsar has cooperated with the police throughout the campaign and says police have confirmed to him "there has been no breach of the peace."

(Image: PA)

The National Association of Head Teachers has been unequivocal in its support. National secretary Rob Kelsall said: "Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson and the team at Anderton Park have the full backing of NAHT and we call upon the Secretary of State, Council and the Police to give their backing too.

"It cannot be right that schools are forced to close early and be subject to such vile threats and intimidation.

"Schools should be a place of calm and such protests should be met with the full force of the law and support from all those who believe in equality, tolerance and respect."

Education Secretary Damian Hinds has written exclusively for BirminghamLive about his thoughts on the protests, calling them 'unacceptable' and 'intimidating,'

Sara Khan, a human rights activist who is heading up the independent Commission on Counter Extremism, warned earlier this year that some would be looking to exploit demonstrations to try to 'sow hate and division'.

Speaking in the aftermath of protests at Parkfield School, she said: "It is a tactic used by extremists - they get involved in an issue they have no stake in, handing out leaflets, posting videos and flyers online, to create a climate that is not helpful. We know that is what was happening here.

"I am very alive to the fact that the longer we allow things like this to go on and ferment, the more extremists will exploit it."

The LGBT community has not been silent on this issue - but nor has it been confrontational in its approach. Counter protests have apparently been considered but ruled out as 'the wrong approach.'

A group of mainly women and children were pelted with eggs and confronted by a gang of men when they visited the school one evening to hang up banners, ribbons and messages of support for the school. Police are investigating.

And prominent gay Muslims - chief among them Khakan Qureshi - have spoken about their own experiences, while pressing the Government and council to back the school.

Mr Qureshi, who runs a social support group for LGBT Muslims in Birmingham, has branded the protests 'disgusting'. He has previously spoken about the challenges of growing up as a gay Muslim and the impact on his health, including at one point becoming suicidal.

What Ofsted has said about the school In its most recent Ofsted report (2017), the schools' equalities teaching was highly praised. "Leadership of equalities is a strength of the school. Equality has high status and has a high profile on a daily basis. All members of the school community – staff and pupils included – demonstrate their commitment to treating everyone equally. "The local authority says that the school is ‘the leading light in Birmingham’ for its equalities work. Pupils are given many opportunities to voice their thoughts and opinions. They have a good understanding of democracy. As a result, pupils are extremely well prepared for life in modern Britain. "The headteacher, senior leaders and governors are passionate about the care, welfare and education of every pupil who attends this school. "Safeguarding in this school is highly effective. Leaders, staff and governors are extremely well trained and vigilant. High-quality policies and procedures protect all pupils. "The headteacher, governors and senior leaders are determined to improve the life chances of the pupils. The school mission statement – ‘relationships, aspirations and sparkle’ – threads through all that leaders do and set out to achieve for the pupils."

"Where does it all end?"

In the coming week, evidence is being gathered by Birmingham City Council to seek a high court injunction designed to ban the protests at the school's gates.

Yardley MP Jess Phillips said she was furious over the treatment endured by the school staff and angry that the protests were damaging the reputation of Birmingham’s “peaceful and loving” Muslim community.

She said: “It is hate preaching. I feel like everyone is pussyfooting around a load of bigots.

"They shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near schools. These are people with a religious extremist agenda. They are holding schools under siege.”

This weekend she added: “If we allow the protests at Anderton Park to change the way we teach in British schools and create a two-tier teaching system, where kids in white neighbourhoods can have all the equalities and kids in Asian neighbourhoods have to have things kept in the dark, they win.

“Then you can expect these protests all over the country.

"If we give in, this is the beginning of something, not the end.

"We cannot give in.”

It's a view shared by local councillors Kerry Jenkins and Martin Straker-Welds, who have been following the protests from the first day.

"We have been horrified by the appalling behaviour and the language used by some protesters on Friday.

"To open up such a protest to so many people and by bringing forward the start time of the protest to coincide with the early closure of the school was highly irresponsible, putting children and staff at risk.

"I have been inundated with complaints about the protest on Friday and have written to the Chief Constable asking him for re-assurance that these actions and behaviours are investigated as incidents of hate crime.

"Such vitriolic protests, based on fantasy and untruths of a few, damage communities and cannot be allowed to continue along this path."

Ms Hewitt-Clarkson has voiced her concerns repeatedly over recent weeks about the risks of protest spreading. This is not about consultation, she says, but about a group of people aggressively wanting to dictate what is and is not said about one of the nine protected characteristics, as set out in the Equality Act.

She said: "If someone is going to tell us that there are elements of the equality agenda that we just can't talk about, then I think we have a constitutional crisis. It is a terrifying prospect.

"This is the thin end of a very sinister wedge.

"If we succumb to what parents demand on this particular issue, and agree not to mention LGBT equality to young children, what do we say if there is a far right parents' group demanding we stop saying religions are equal, or black people are equal to white people? Where does it end?"

Where does it end? It's a question that some activists hope will end with more schools facing protests like this.

More protests are planned at Anderton Park if collective consultation is not set up swiftly.

A rally outside Birmingham Council House has been suggested to put pressure on the education authority.

More schools could also be targeted as part of a national drive to force change in the way equalities and relationships are taught in schools.

"Parent packs" are being compiled by protesters, led by Abdullah Bahm, the Batley-based Muslim activist who is also spreading the message of a link between LGBT and paedophilia.

His pack include sexualised images and information that he claims is being taught to primary school children.

"This is going to go national, parents are going to complain like this and schools had better get ready for it," he claimed.

The support of other religious leaders - including Christians and Jews - who also view homosexuality as sinful is being encouraged in a bid to show this is not a Muslim issue. This could be just the start.

Added Mr Afsar: "The ball is in her (the head's) court now. We've shown her we have support. Only she can end this by doing what we have asked. Now it's time for her to act."