Ofsted cracks down on school that faced takeover by Muslim fanatics: Academy forces harassment sanctions after snap inspection

The schoo l claimed sum, but the equipment is worth far less, it is alleged

It is at centre of a storm surrounding 'plot' to oust non-Muslim teachers

Education chiefs are now investigating Park View Academy







A school at the centre of an alleged takeover plot by Islamist hardliners could now face strict government sanctions following a snap Ofsted inspection.

Park View Academy in Birmingham has been condemned in recent weeks for increasing ‘Islamisation’, hosting extremist preachers during assemblies and apparently encouraging girls to cover their hair.

Yesterday it emerged that the Education Funding Agency had launched a separate probe into the school over the misuse of public funds to pay £70,000 for playground loudspeakers to summon pupils to Islamic prayers.

Park View Academy, where Lindsey Clark is executive head, allegedly spent £70,00 on speakers to summon pupils to Islamic prayer

Whistleblowing teachers have claimed the school is in the hands of a group of extremists who infiltrated the governing body, forcing non-Muslims out and replacing them with hardliners.

Earlier this month a letter was circulated referring to a ‘Trojan Horse’ plot for Muslim extremists to take over the running of schools. The authenticity of the letter is unclear but its very existence led to a flood of allegations from staff at schools in the city.

Following the Ofsted inspection, Park View – previously rated ‘outstanding’ – will be downgraded to ‘inadequate’. This enables Ofsted to place the school, in the inner-city suburb of Alum Rock, in special measures, giving the watchdog the power to remove the governing body.

Meanwhile, according to the Sunday Telegraph, pupils at Oldknow Primary in Small Heath were led in anti-Christian chanting by a teacher in assembly.

Oldknow, which like Park View has many Muslim pupils and its own madrasa – or Islamic school – has organised at least three trips to the holy city of Mecca, subsidised from public funds, and requires all pupils to learn Arabic.

Its respected non-Muslim head-teacher, Bhupinder Kondal, recently left her post for resisting this increasingly radical agenda, according to fellow teachers. Mrs Kondal is among four of the school’s six-strong senior management team who have left in the past six months.

Park View School in Birmingham, It is currently under investigation by the Department for Education

Last week it emerged how other teachers were forced out by hardliners in a similar way after opposing plans to ban sex education and stop the teachings of other religions.

Michael White, a former associate headteacher at Park View, described the latest action taken by Ofsted as ‘a step in the right direction’.

But he condemned Birmingham City Council for ‘failing to take action at the time’. Mr White said the council and Government have been ‘too afraid to upset communities, choosing to sweep things under the carpet’.

It is not known whether the decision to retire by Park View’s current head, Lindsey Clark, is related to pressure from Islamists on the governing body. Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham’s Perry Barr, urged the Department for Education to replace the governing body at the academy.

Calling for a full inquiry, he said: ‘Local council officers have taken their eye off the ball. The council has allowed these governors to take over these schools under the radar.’

At another successful primary school, Springfield, similar tactics are being used according to the Sunday Telegraph. Headteacher Christopher Webb is under ‘non-stop attack’ by radical members of the governing body, teachers said.