School still segregating boys and girls illegally
Ofsted inspectors say Islamic school is still discriminating
AN Islamic school criticised for unlawfully separating boys and girls has split into two separate schools without permission.
Redstone Academy in Balsall Heath was visited by inspectors in February after it was given an ‘inadequate’ Ofsted rating in November 2019.
Inspectors condemned the separation of boys and girls, with boys given privileges and treated more favourably.
The school’s head, Saadat Rasool, said the school is now awaiting a pre-registration report from the Department for Education (DfE) to set up a separate girl’s school.
But the February inspection noted segregation was still in place.
“Leaders are continuing to separate pupils in the school because of their sex,” the report notes.
“This amounts to discrimination against pupils, contrary to Part 6 of the Equality Act 2010.
“At the time of the last inspection, girls were being separated from boys and were not receiving the same opportunities. As a result, girls’ education and self-esteem were being affected. Leaders have taken the decision to continue to teach girls and boys separately, without the formal approval of the Department for Education (DfE).
“However, they have now ensured
that both groups of pupils have the same access and entitlement to the curriculum and wider educational experiences.
“Leaders are aware that they are operating outside their agreed registration with the DfE.
“However, they believe that they have acted in the best interests of the pupils and maintain that they have had regular contact with the DfE with regard to the setting up of two separate schools.”
The inspectors’ November report said: “Pupils say that they feel safe in school, but they are not.
“Procedures are disorganised. Leaders do not ensure pupils get the help they need. Boys and girls are
unlawfully segregated by sex for all school activities, except for weekly assemblies. Boys enjoy school more than girls. This is because they are treated favourably and have more privileges.
“Boys have more opportunities to play sport. They get to choose the places to go to for work experience first. Some of the girls told us that they do not like this. They said that this was not fair and they feel disadvantaged.”
Ofsted noted that on the most recent inspection the school had made a number of changes.
These include providing a curriculum and special needs policy, with after-school opportunities now equal for both boys and girls.
“The proprietor and leaders have made significant improvements to the school since the last inspection and recognise the importance of meeting the independent school standards consistently and continually,” the report added.
“Welfare, health and safety arrangements are much better, and pupils’ well-being is better assured.
“Pupils said that they were happy to be in school and felt safe. None of the pupils said that they felt they were being treated differently in any way. However, because pupils are not provided with the opportunity to mix during the school day, this is to their detriment.”
Head teacher Mr Rasool, said: “We have always worked with the DfE to ensure that we are meeting all the independent school standards including the Equalities Act 2010.
“On the Post Monitoring Inspection all previous standards unrelated to segregation have successfully been met and we thank Ofsted and the DfE for their positive contributions and advice to ensure that we meet all standards and continue to provide a high standard of education for our pupils.”
A spokesperson for the DfE said: “We are progressing an application for the opening of Redstone Girls School, which was inspected in March 2021. The school will be permitted to open if the inspection finds it meets all the required independent school standards.”