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An independent school has been ordered to close by the Government for failing to prepare its pupils for life in "modern British society".

The move comes after Darul Uloom School, an all-boys Islamic school in Loughborough Road, Belgrave, Leicester, was slammed by Ofsted for a catalogue of problems.

They included giving pupils weak moral guidance and failing to challenge sexist views.

The school, which charges up to £2,700 annually per place, is believed to be one of several schools across the country that the Department for Education has ordered to close because of fears of extremism or pupil safety.

A spokesperson for the department said: "When we find schools promoting twisted ideologies or discrimination in classrooms, we will take action, including closing the school or working with the police as necessary."

Four of the schools, including Darul Uloom, have lodged an appeal with the courts, meaning they can continue running until a ruling is made.

Ofsted inspectors visited Darul Uloom in May this year and concluded its social, moral, spiritual and cultural education were weak, and that it did not "prepare pupils for life in modern British society".

Inspectors said pupils at the school, which has around 146 male pupils on roll aged from 11 years to 23, "held stereotypical views on the roles of men and women in the workplace", and that those views went unchallenged.

They said that in one year 10 pupil's religious studies book, he had written that "girls" are a reason for poverty in the United Kingdom - a comment which went unchallenged.

Inspectors also said teachers did not ensure pupils were exposed to a range of different views.

They found the school itself was "unsafe, shabby, and dirty", with poor hygiene.

Inspectors also said there were "serious weaknesses in safeguarding procedures", and that the premises were unsafe and in a bad state of repair. Examples given included electrical wiring for a shower not being cased in, a filthy kitchen area with food debris on the floor and in an open drain, dirty and peeling paintwork, missing door handles and portable heaters covered in clothes.

Conclusions following the May visit supported findings made by inspectors on their previous visit, in December 2015, when they found the school was inadequate in all areas.

The Leicester Mercury contacted Darul Uloom by phone and email and asked to speak to head teacher Haroon Makda, but was told he was unavailable.

Under the tougher Independent Schools Standards, all independent schools are required to prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in British society.

The other schools ordered to shut are in Nottingham, Birmingham and Sheffield.