School is accused of ‘educational apartheid’

Segregation in schools leaves female pupils “unprepared for modern life”, Ofsted has said during a landmark legal case sparked by an Islamic school which it condemned for teaching boys and girls separately. Lawyers acting for Amanda Spielman, the Ofsted chief inspector, told three Court of Appeal judges that segregating classes amounted to “educational apartheid”.

Ofsted, with the backing of the Government, is challenging a High Court ruling in November last year that cleared Al-hijrah school in Birmingham of operating an unlawful policy of segregating the sexes. If judges find in Ofsted’s favour, it will become unlawful for all schools – including private schools – to teach boys and girls in separate classes.

The case continues.