Ofsted boss: Trojan Horse could happen again in city

BIRMINGHAM risks a repeat Trojan Horse scandal because “awful schools”, according to boss Sir Michael Wilshaw.

In his last interview before stepping down as chief inspector of schools, he also lambasted the city’s “appalling children’s services”.

And he revealed that Birmingham had been his biggest worry during his five years in the role.

Child protection services in Birmingham have been rated as inadequate for eight consecutive years, meaning families and vulnerable children are still being failed.

The city council is two years into a three-year improvement programme and under close supervision from the Department for Education.

But Sir Michael told The Sunday Times that the authority was “the equivalent of the 19th century rotten borough”.

“If the Government does not act in Birmingham in terms of corporate governance, I am concerned we will see a return to Trojan Horse issues at some stage,” he said.

“It is up to a commission of inquiry to reform Birmingham.

“It is not acceptable that our second city should be second division in terms of education and children’s services.”

Sir Michael had already warned of the risk of a return of the Trojan Horse campaign to impose radical Islamic doctrines on Birmingham schools earlier this year. of the

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He wrote to then education secretary Nicky Morgan, saying the plot had “gone underground” but had not gone away.

In the interview, Sir Michael said he was told by a number of Birmingham headteachers last week that “without Ofsted’s presence, things could fall apart and Trojan Horse issues could return”.

The council hit back, saying it would be writing to Government to complain that a “civil servant” had “again chosen to voice opinions not based on fact or evidence”.

The authority said it would demand a commitment that Sir Michael’s replacement would be impartial.

Council leader John Clancy said: “Sir Michael Wilshaw is thankfully leaving the public stage this month. He departs with an appalling record of harm to both education and children’s social services.

“He is a civil servant but his highhanded approach has all too often appeared to be a political attack on those who run and work in Birmingham children’s services and schools.”

Richard Watts, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said: “It was disappointing and unhelpful that the chief inspector chose a national newspaper to make such negative judgments.

“Councils want to see Ofsted play a key role in education improvement, and we look forward to working with the new chief inspector to

bring this about.”