Ofsted chief’s blast at school gate mobs
Militant parents ‘fillet curriculum’ to fit beliefs in rows over Prophet cartoon and Union flag
THE head of Ofsted has criticised ‘militant’ parents who protest outside schools in a bid to ‘fillet’ the curriculum to fit their beliefs.
Amanda Spielman said schools are now facing a ‘confrontational brand of activism’ involving ‘abuse’ and even ‘violence’.
Mrs Spielman said teachers are now being ‘policed by self-appointed “moral guardians” who refuse to tolerate an alternative viewpoint.’
During her appearance at the online Festival of Education, she said the rise of demonstrations outside schools in recent years had been made worse by the internet.
‘Let’s not have teachers... harried on social media into apologising for what they’ve said, or into changing the way they teach, in the face of militant activism,’ she said.
‘It cannot be right that the curriculum can be filleted by pressure groups.’
Mrs Spielman said parents and children are trying to force their views on others and some are engaging in racist or anti-Semitic bullying.
‘In some cases children and teachers are suffering abuse or even violence, simply for being who they are,’ she said. ‘For being the wrong religion, or race, or ethnicity. This is completely unacceptable.’ She said part of the problem was that ‘protected characteristics enshrined in the Equality Act’, such as religion and gay rights, ‘don’t always exist in harmony’.
Mrs Spielman urged schools to fight the new trend by teaching children about alternative perspectives on issues and telling them about historical context.
Her comments come after protests were held outside Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire in March after a teacher showed Year 9 pupils a caricature of the Prophet Mohammad during a religious studies lesson. The teacher was suspended and had to go into hiding amid fears for his life, but was later told he could have his job back.
Meanwhile at Pimlico Academy, in central London, children held mass walkouts over so-called ‘racist’ uniform rules and the flying of the Union flag over the building. The head teacher apologised publicly for failing to ‘listen’ to students but later resigned after the furore.
In 2019, some primary schools in Birmingham faced protests at the gates from parents who opposed allowing children to be taught about the existence of same sex relationships. Since 2015, under government rules, all schools must teach ‘British values’ which include tolerance and respect regarding religion, race, sexuality and gender.
Ministers introduced the rules after Islamic fundamentalists took over some schools in Birmingham and tried to impose a hardline agenda.
■ Students without GCSE maths and English could be barred from taking degrees until they have passed them, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said.
The Government intends to consult on whether pupils should be allowed on higher education courses in a bid to restore ‘rigour’ to the system.
‘Abuse and violence’