Music is act of the devil, said leaf lets at Muslim faith school
a MUSLIM faith school has accused ofsted of racism after an inspection discovered leaflets branding music, dancing and singing as acts of the devil.
inspectors warned that Darul Uloom islamic high school is failing to shield pupils from extreme views and not adequately promoting ‘fundamental British values’.
large numbers of ‘ highly concerning’ leaflets were found in areas used by pupils, shared by the school and adjoining mosque, during an unannounced ofsted inspection.
The Department for Education is now investigating following the highly critical ofsted report, but the independent school in small heath, Birmingham, hit back yesterday. it labelled the conduct of inspectors last month as ‘unac- ceptable and racist’ after one ‘angrily refused to take off her shoes when she visited the mosque’. The school claimed the inspector was extremely belligerent throughout the visit and dismissed its equality statement as ‘just a piece of paper’.
it had received a full ofsted inspection last october when its overall effectiveness was rated as inadequate.
The school then drew up an improvement action plan which was evaluated by inspectors in February.
The Department for Education ordered an unannounced progress monitoring visit by the schools watchdog, which took place in May.
The latest ofsted report, published this week, identified a number of serious safeguarding concerns and concluded ‘leaders and managers have not ensured that pupils are safe and protected from extreme views’.
it said: ‘leaders and staff have had training in preventing extremism and radicalisation, and been given the latest Government safeguarding guid- ance. however, the impact of this work has not rectified safeguarding weaknesses. a large number of copies of a leaflet containing highly concerning and extremist views, such as “Music, dancing and singing are acts of devil and prohibited”, were discovered during the inspection.
‘The leaflets were found in areas shared by the school and adjoining mosque which are used by leaders and in areas used by the pupils.’
inspectors were critical of Darul Uloom – which caters for boys aged 11 to 16 – for failing to ensure that pupils’ understanding of ‘fundamental British values is effectively promoted’.
after ofsted’s latest findings were published, the school said it has a music curriculum. it insisted the leaflets had been ‘dumped’ by a member of the public at the rear door of an adjacent mosque. They had no association with the mosque or school.
The school statement said: ‘These leaflets were not on the display board or anywhere near the display board.
‘The mosque management immediately disposed of the leaflets when it was brought to their attention.’
it added: ‘The conduct of the ofsted inspectors during this inspection were unacceptable and racist.’
in a letter to Education secretary, Nicky Morgan, last November, the head of ofsted sir Michael Wilshaw warned that the only woman governor at the school was forced to sit in a separate room during meetings and had to talk through an open doorway.
a Department for Education spokesman said: ‘We are urgently investigating the concerning allegations about this school and as part of this we commissioned ofsted to do an unannounced inspection. When we find schools promoting twisted ideologies we will not hesitate to take action.’
in 2011, a Dispatches documentary for Channel 4 secretly filmed children at the school being taught religious apartheid and social segregation.
‘Protected from extremist views’