Park View hits back at Ofsted and Michael Gove - Summary
Ofsted finds 'culture of fear and intimidation' in some schools
Gove says he wants all schools to have to 'promote British values'
Afternoon summary
6.00pm BST
Michael Gove, the education secretary, has responded to an Ofsted investigation into the influence of Islamist extremists in Birmingham schools by announcing plans to require all English schools to promote British values. (See 4.29am.) Although Ofsted found no evidence of a plot to take over Birmingham schools, Gove played up the seriousness of the revelations to the full, saying it was his duty to keep pupils safe. Tristram Hunt, the shadow education secretary, said reports highlighted Gove's failure to submit schools to proper supervision.
You speak of requiring all schools to promote British values - all well and good. Amongst the greatest of British values is an education system which welcomes and integrates migrant communities, builds successful citizens in a multi-cultural society, secures safety and high standards for all, and you are failing to do so.
We are reassured that Ofsted has presented no evidence of a plot or conspiracy, but there have been unacceptable actions by a few people in a few schools. It's also clear that there are areas in which the city council's own support needs to be reviewed and strengthened.
5.41pm BST
Earlier I said it was not very clear what "promoting British values" actually meant in practice.
|The Department for Education has now sent out some briefing. It says it wants to "create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.".
This is a new part of the standard. It has some aspects in common with other parts, particularly those relating to respect for the law and mutual tolerance, while seeking to place those in an overall context of British society based on parliamentary democracy and liberty for the individual within a legal framework.
13. The list below describes the kinds of understanding and knowledge that can be expected in pupils as a result of schools meeting this part of the standard.
5.15pm BST
Here's a statement from Chris Keates, the general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, on the Birmingham investigation.
Amidst the feeding frenzy of leaked reports, numerous investigations, politicians taking chunks out of each other and months of rumour and speculation, what has been forgotten is that in the middle of all this are teachers trying their best to support children and young people, many of whom are taking critical exams.
The NASUWT will be studying the Ofsted reports in detail. Our priority is to support our members who are under great pressure and stress.
5.13pm BST
The BBC's Mark Easton has written a very good blog about the "Trojan horse" affair.
Here's his conclusion.
The evidence of Islamist extremism in Birmingham schools appears thin. The schools themselves say Ofsted has made "absolutely no suggestion, nor did they find any evidence, that Park View schools either promote or tolerate extremism or radicalisation".
What there may well have been is an attempt by some conservative Muslims to encourage an ethos within Birmingham schools that is true to their religious tradition. But is that very different from Michael Gove's encouragement of parents in Catholic academies to be true to their religious tradition?
5.06pm BST
The Muslim Council of Britain has put out a statement saying the Ofsted investigation into Birmingham schools could make the situation worse, by propagating "the slur of extremism".
Here's an extract.
These incendiary claims have not been proven, and there is widespread fear that the subsequent investigations have only deepened the problem, not resolved it at all. No extremism has been found, but the slur of extremism remains ...
We understand that many of these schools are being downgraded because they are not doing enough to tackle extremism.
4.38pm BST
In the Commons Michael Gove is still taking questions on his statement.
Liam Byrne, the Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill and a shadow education minister, tried to ask a question earlier but got cut off by the speaker, John Bercow, because he was being so long-winded.
Four out of the six schools placed in special measures are academies. They report to you. One school detailed in the Ofsted report, was listed with by my count, some 15 breaches of funding agreement with you. Given these academies reported to you, I have to ask, how did you let this happen?
4.29pm BST
Here are the main points from Michael Gove's statement
Gove said that he would consult on requiring all schools to promote British values.
We already require independent schools, academies and free schools to respect British values.
Now we will consult on strengthening this standard further, so that all schools actively promote British values.
Keeping our children safe - and ensuring our schools prepare them for life in modern Britain - could not be more important it is my central mission.
Allegations made in what has become known as the Trojan Horse letter suggested children were not being kept safe in Birmingham schools.
At one secular primary school, terms such as white prostitute unsuitable for primary childrens ears, were used in Friday assemblies run exclusively by Muslim staff.
The school organised visits to Saudi Arabia open only to Muslim pupils.
Academies will receive letters saying I am minded to terminate funding agreements.
Local authority schools are having governors replaced.
As education secretary, I am taking decisive action to make sure those children are protected.
Schools that are proven to have failed will be taken over, put under new leadership and taken in a fresh new direction.
4.02pm BST
In his opening statement Michael Gove referred to reports into Birmingham schools published today by the Education Funding Agency (the body that oversees academies), in addition to the Ofsted reports.
There are two on the EFA's website.
3.55pm BST
Gove is responding to Hunt.
He says he is disappointed Hunt did not say whether Labour supported no notice inspections.
3.51pm BST
Tristram Hunt, the shadow education secretary, is replying to Gove.
He says the events in Birmingham show an education system "in disarray".
Is it true that the Department for Education was warned in 2010? If so, why did nobody act?
3.42pm BST
Gove says no government has done more to tackle extremism than this one under Theresa May.
A unit was set up to counter extremism in public services.
3.38pm BST
Michael Gove says keeping children safe is his key mission.
Allegations made in Birmingham suggest children were not kept safe.
3.33pm BST
That's it. We are now getting Michael Gove's statement.
3.31pm BST
May HAS said didn't authorise leaking letter to Gove but ignored repeated qs on whether knew was being released & why left on web for 3 days
3.29pm BST
Labour's Jon Ashworth asks if May decided at the start of the cabinet secretary's not to take down her letter to Gove from the website.
May just repeats the answer she has given many times already about the cabinet secretary launching an investigation.
3.26pm BST
Labour's Nic Dakin asks if May knew that Fiona Cunningham was going to release the letter to May.
May could have just said: "No."
3.23pm BST
Labour's Wayne David asks if May authorised the release of her letter to Gove to the media.
May says she has answered that already. She did not authorise the release of the letter.
3.22pm BST
Lee Donaghy, the Park View assistant principal who gave a rather moving statement this morning attacking Ofsted (see 10.59am) is now having a go at my Guardian colleague, Zoe Williams.
.@zoesqwilliams says all religion is authoritarian & runs counter to education. Wow. The real extremists are coming out of the woodwork.
3.21pm BST
Labour's Huw Irranca-Davies asks if Home Office special advisers have access to the website.
May says she has addressed the issues underlying this question already.
3.17pm BST
The Spectator's James Forsyth thinks Labour is not coordinating its attack on May very well.
Odd that Labour whips haven't coordinated backbench Qs to May. It is making it an awful lot easier for her to simply not answer Cooper's Qs
Yvette Cooper talking to the Labour Chief Whip Rosie Winterton. Cooper has every right to be furious, backbenches not using her questions
3.11pm BST
Turning away from the Commons for a moment, my colleague Steven Morris has sent me this, from outside Oldknow academy. (See 1.55pm.)
In their smart blazers and ties, the pupils of Oldknow Academy were getting on with lessons as usual.
At the school gates, parents were worried that the shadow of the Trojan Horse row would cast a shadow over the rest of their lives.
3.10pm BST
David Ward, a Lib Dem MP, asks why May used the word "extremist" to cover the killing of Lee Rigby and behaviour in Birmingham schools. Would she talk about extremist Catholics, instead of devout Catholics? Or extremist Christians, instead of committed Christians?
May says she mentioned Lee Rigby in her opening statement because she was talking about the government's anti-extremist measures.
3.08pm BST
Labour's Nia Griffith says May is using the word "immediate" to refer to "three days". No wonder people are waiting so long for passports. Can she explain why it took so long to take it down.
May repeats the answer she gave to Lucas, without addressing this specific point.
3.06pm BST
Labour's Andrew Gwynne asks why it took three days to remove her letter from the Home Office's website.
May repeats the answer she gave to Ian Lucas. (See 3.04pm.) She does not answer the question.
3.04pm BST
Labour's Ian Lucas asks who authorised the placing of her letter on the Home Office's website.
May says it was not her. Sir Jeremy Heywood, the cabinet secretary, conducted an investigation. His recommendations went to the prime minister. And her special adviser, Fiona Cunningham, resigned on Saturday.
3.02pm BST
Labour's Lyn Brown asks May to confirm that she has only got £1m in her Prevent budget left.
May says that Brown is not reading the figures correctly.
2.59pm BST
On Twitter colleagues are pointing to a key question that Theresa May refused to answer.
Theresa May clearly believes "attack is best form of defence". Ignores key q from Yvette Cooper - did she write letter to Gove to leak it?
T May fails to answer Y Cooper question. Was that letter to Gove written so that it could be leaked?
2.56pm BST
Labour's Dennis Skinner asks why May failed to persuade Gove. Is is because "the nasty party" is gearing up for a leadership contest after the election?
May says that question should not be dignified with a reply.
2.55pm BST
May says it was Muslim groups who urged the government to separate counter-terrorism work from counter-extremism work.
2.53pm BST
We have now posted Sir Michael Wilshaw's letter about Ofsted's Birmingham findings in full on our website.
2.51pm BST
Keith Vaz, the Labour chair of the home affairs committee, says May is in charge of counter-terrorism. No minister has warned the committee about extremism in Birmingham schools. Has May received a reply to the questions she posed in her letter to Gove last Tuesday.
May says Gove is about to make a statement about Birmingham. Vaz should wait for that, she says.
2.49pm BST
Labour's David Blunkett says May is at her worst when she tries to patronise. What will May and Gove do to work together to reach out the the Muslim community?
May says the government is clear that it needs to reach out and work with people in Muslim communities. MPs can do this too, she says. She says on Friday she was talking to Muslim women from her constituency about how they could play a full part in British society.
2.46pm BST
May is responding to Cooper.
She says she has banned foreign hate preachers. Labour did not do this. In fact, one was actually embraced by Labour's mayor of London, Ken Livingstone.
2.41pm BST
Yvette Cooper says these issues are complex. They require ministers to work together.
But, instead of showing leadership, May and Gove chose to "let rip" in public.
2.38pm BST
Theresa May says she takes tackling extremism very seriously.
That is why she reformed the Prevent strategy.
2.34pm BST
Yvette Cooper asks Theresa May to make a statement on her conduct regarding the government's actions preventing extremism.
2.31pm BST
Theresa May, the home secretary, is about to answer an urgent Commons question about her stance on tackling extremism.
Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, has tabled it. She wants to ask May about her row with Michael Gove.
2.28pm BST
Here are some more extracts from Sir Michael Wilshaw's letter setting out Ofsted's findings.
Some headteachers, including those with a proud record of raising standards, said that they have been marginalised or forced out of their jobs. As a result, some schools previously judged to be good or outstanding have experienced high levels of staff turbulence, low staff morale and a rapid decline in their overall effectivenes. -
In several schools, there has been a breakdown in trust between governors and staff, including senior staff. Many staff and some headteachers told Her Majestys Inspectors that they were frightened of expressing views contrary to those promoted by governors. Some staff said that they were fearful of losing their jobs or being blocked from promotion if they spoke out against the changes that were being pursued. In one instance, a school leader was so anxious about the consequences of speaking to Her Majestys Inspectors that a meeting had to be arranged in a supermarket car park.
2.16pm BST
Here is the press notice from Ofsted, with links to all 21 reports published today.
Her Majestys Inspectors carried out inspections of 21 schools in Birmingham between 5 March 2014 and 1 May 2014. All of the schools that were inspected are publicly funded and none is a faith school.
All of the schools were inspected under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. Fifteen of these schools were inspected at the request of the Secretary of State. Six were inspected because of Ofsteds concerns about the effectiveness of safeguarding and leadership and management in these schools.
2.11pm BST
Ofsted has now published the "advice note" (pdf) that Sir Michael Wilshaw, Ofsted's chief inspector, has sent to Michael Gove following the inspections.
It's an 11-page letter.
A culture of fear and intimidation has developed in some of the schools since their previous inspection. Some headteachers, including those with a proud record of raising standards, said that they have been marginalised or forced out of their jobs. As a result, some schools previously judged to be good or outstanding have experienced high levels of staff turbulence, low staff morale and a rapid decline in their overall effectiveness.
Some headteachers reported that there has been an organised campaign to target certain schools in Birmingham in order to alter their character and ethos.
2.07pm BST
Here is the report into Park View academy (pdf), another of the five schools judged to be inadequate.
And here is an extract.
The academys work to raise students awareness of the risks of extremism is inadequate.
External speakers have not been vetted properly. For example, those who speak to students as part of a programme of Islamic- themed assemblies.
1.56pm BST
We are summarising key points from the Ofsted reports here, on this blog.
1.55pm BST
The Ofsted reports are now out.
Here is the report into Oldknow academy (pdf).
Governors do not meet their statutory responsibilities to safeguard pupils because they have not taken steps to protect them from the risks of radicalisation and extremism.
A small group of governors is making significant changes to the ethos and culture of the academy without full consultation. They are endeavouring to promote a particular and narrow faith-based ideology in what is a maintained and non-faith academy.
Governance is inadequate. Governors are not fulfilling all of the terms and conditions of the academys funding agreement.
The Determination awarded to the academy in January 2008, exempting the academy from having a daily, broadly Christian act of worship, expired in January 2013 and was not renewed.
1.46pm BST
On the World at One Liam Byrne, the shadow education minister and a Birmingham MP, said that Michael Gove would have to explain why he did not intervene earlier in the Birmingham schools. I've taken the quote from PoliticsHome.
There are suggestions that both Birmingham city council knew and there are suggestions that Michael Gove knew, and obviously one of the things that we'll be pressing Michael Gove on today is that if the media reports are true, four out of the five schools that are destined for special measures are academies; they report to him, he's in charge, the buck stops on his desk. So we'll be asking Theresa May's question which is: Were officials at the Department of Education warned in 2010, and if so why did nobody act?
We frankly want to know who knew what and when, but as Theresa May herself has made clear, there were officials in the Department for Education that were briefed on some of these allegations. And ,as I say, Ofsted passed Park View School, for example, as an outstanding school in January 2012, Michael Gove signed it off not only as an academy, then asked Park View Trust to expand. If today, we learn that he is putting Park View school into special measures, then he will have to account for what action he took, for what monitoring he undertook, and what his relationship was with the school governors, because ultimately the buck stops on his desk.
The allegations relating to schools in Birmingham raise serious questions about the quality of school governance and oversight arrangements in the maintained sector, not just the supplementary schools that would be signatories to this code of practice. How did it come to pass, for example, that one of the governors at Park View was the chairman of the education committee of the Muslim Council of Britain? Is it true that Birmingham city council was warned about these allegations in 2008? Is it true that the Department for Education was warned in 2010? If so, why did nobody act? I am aware that several investigations are still ongoing and those investigations are yet to conclude. But it is clear to me that we will need to take clear action to improve the quality of staffing and governance if we are to prevent extremism in schools.
1.38pm BST
George Galloway, the Respect MP, says the "Trojan horse" affair has become an anti-Muslim witch hunt.
The "Trojan horse" hoax has morphed into an anti-Muslim witch-hunt in Birmingham which risks spreading further. Shame on those responsible
1.34pm BST
The Ramadhan Foundation, a Muslim organisation, has accused Michael Gove of a "deliberate attempt to whip up hatred against Muslims". This is from its chief executive, Mohammed Shafiq.
The Trojan horse campaign waged by Michael Gove and his supporters has been a deliberate attempt to whip up hatred towards Muslims.
In report leaked by Ofsted to national newspapers it's clear that there is no evidence of extremism or a plot to take over schools yet Ofsted saw fit to make up findings based on instructions from their political masters.
1.20pm BST
Dominic Cummings, Michael Gove's former adviser, has been commenting about the Trojan horse issue, and Gove's row with Theresa May, quite freely on Twitter this morning. Here are some of his most interesting tweets.
"No notice" refers to the no notice Ofsted inspections, which the government wants to extend.
Hacks: we first said we'd do No Notice 5/11/2009. Was going to happen. MW changed mind 2012, tho was extended. No more Potemkin Ofsteds
No Notice will scrap the Potemkin spreadsheets & checklists. Less burden for schools & less stressful (once anti-Gove default dies away)
@Samfr Gains outweigh. E.g I meet teachers all the time who tell me of worst kids being sent away when the call arrives. No more Potemkins
Nothing in the world that works well works on Ofsted's model. It needs mega reform. Shift to NN will spark it & end the Potemkin charades
Important lobby pls note: MG lunch with Times was MONDAY. ConHome leadership poll came out AFTER this. It CANNOT have been the cause!
Every story 'MG blabbed cos of ConHome leadership poll' = wrong. He blabbed (Mon) BEFORE the poll came out (Tues)!
1.04pm BST
Left Unity, the new left party, is saying Michael Gove should resign over the Birmingham affair because "schools, teachers and children are being demonised with not a shred of evidence".
1.01pm BST
The British Humanist Association is calling for a wider review of the role of religion in schools in the light of the Birmingham affair.
In a statement, Andrew Copson, the BHA chief executive argues that it is "no surprise that some people of another faith will take existing schools of no religious character and effectively treat them as their own 'faith' schools" when Christian schools get special treatment.
12.55pm BST
David Blunkett, the Labour former education secretary, has called for a cross-party review of claims that Islamist extremists are infiltrating schools. As my colleague Patrick Wintour reports, he said one problem was that oversight of schools had been relaxed. Blunkett said:
We do need a cross-party and I would suggest that the two committees the home affairs select committee and the education select committee should set up a join review because this is a far bigger than a political party or an ideology of a particular minister, this is about the nature of the future of our society and our society does need an open, liberal curriculum that embraces all faiths and no faiths, that teaches children to think for themselves, to examines the evidence, to be able to come to decisions rather than having any ideology, any politics, ,any faith pushed down their throat and that is the nature of the type of education we want.
My main concern at the moment is that people seemed to have missed the point that we have a national curriculum, although we no longer have a curriculum authority because it was abolished back in 2011, and we have a national curriculum that doesnt apply to all schools, it doesnt apply to Park View Academy Trust because they are academy schools and they are outside the curriculum.
12.49pm BST
According to the Press Association, Ofsted has found that an Islamic primary school in Bedfordshire had books promoting stoning, lashing and execution. This is from the PA story.
Ofsted said Olive Tree Primary School in Luton, Bedfordshire, was deemed inadequate after inspectors found "pupils' contact in school with people from different cultures, faiths and traditions is too limited to promote tolerance and respect for the views, lifestyles and customs of other people".
Along with library books that "promote fundamentalist views" which "have no place in British society", it was found there were too few books about the world's other major religions.
12.45pm BST
You can read all the Guardian's coverage of the "Trojan horse" story here.
As for the rest of the papers, here are three articles I found interesting.
Some Muslim schools do indeed reject modernist values. A young boy, Ahmed (not his real name) wrote to me from one of these Birmingham schools. He is gay and petrified.
They say it is a white disease. They will kill me if they know. I cannot live any more. I was in a mixed school before and I was OK. But my parents moved me to this school and I am so alone here.
Mr Gove is a paradox. He is the politest of men but his intellectual self-confidence and curiosity explain why he will cross dangerous motorways as well as country roads to begin an argument. This explains not only his testy relations with some colleagues, but also his unpopularity with teachers and parents. Although he deserves to be remembered as a great education secretary he has fought on too many fronts.
Education now needs what health gained in Jeremy Hunt someone to embed his predecessors reforms but who can win friends as well as arguments. In the looming reshuffle, David Cameron should put Mr Gove in charge of the Tory manifesto. Mr Goves commitment to end illiteracy shows that he understands that Tories must be bold and inspirational if they are to win their first parliamentary majority since 1992.
Of course, theres no suggestion that those alleged to be Islamising a few Birmingham schools are planning or desiring violence. In fact, only a minority of terrorists in the UK have journeyed to violence via conservative, non-violent Muslim organisations they have no time for them. But the traditions and rhetoric of non-violent extremism are the terrorists oxygen of justification. They hear and applaud that Jews should be fed to pigs, homosexuals hurled from mountain tops, even simply that apostasy is forbidden (on pain of death, which is often left unstated) or that Shia Muslims are not Muslims.
It is our tolerance of intolerance that motivates Michael Goves mission to resist the ideological subversion of our institutions and democratic practices. This ranges from how evolutionary theory is taught in our classrooms to voter intimidation as recently observed in Tower Hamlets. It is also this that brings him into conflict with the Home Office, whose record on dealing with non-violent extremism he probably sees as ranging from the supine in the 1990s to the counter-productive in the noughties, when under the Prevent programme, self-appointed representative Muslim groups were funded by government in a misguided attempt to deflect people from violence by allowing them to encourage segregation from society and intolerance of all who do not share their beliefs.
12.40pm BST
Here's a statement from Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, on the Ofsted reports into Birmingham.
From an unsigned and undated letter has grown this so-called Trojan Horse affair.
The highly inflammatory deployment of an anti-terrorism chief to head up the inquiry, the unprecedented and clearly political inspection of 21 schools by Ofsted, and the public squabble between Theresa May and Michael Gove has not been positive for Birmingham schools and the children they educate.
12.36pm BST
There will be an urgent question in the Commons to Theresa May, the home secretary, about tackling extremism (and, by implication, her row with Michael Gove).
Urgent Question granted to @YvetteCooperMP at 2.30 to ask the Home Sec to make a statement on her conduct within Gov to tackle extremism
12.28pm BST
And here is the Guardian video of the Park View educational trust statement.
12.26pm BST
The Telegraph's Andrew Gilligan has written a long blog strongly attacking the Guardian's coverage of the "Trojan horse" story.
Richard Adams, the Guardian's education editor, has posted it on Twitter.
In which Andrew Gilligan has a go at me and runs through his greatest hits http://t.co/2bzYm7nlKf
Mr Gilligan doesn't mention that EFA and Ofsted inspectors didn't find any evidence of extremism at Park View.
12.10pm BST
Downing Street has said that Theresa May, the home secretary, did not know about the publication of a letter on the Home Office website last week criticising Michael Gove for his handling of allegations about extremism in schools.
This implies that it was Fiona Cunningham, May's special adviser who was forced to resign on Saturday, who was responsible.
Pms says Theresa May unaware her letter to Gove would be published last week on HO website. Refuses to say who published, or who instructed.
Pms phrasing leaves open former Spad F Cunningham ordered a civil servant to publish letter. Pms says appropriate consequences followed.
11.49am BST
My colleague Steven Morris is at Park View. He's sent me this.
It's hard to over-emphasise the degree of anger at the gates of Park View school from teachers, parents, pupils. I just heard one parent say the only extreme thing about the school was the extreme dedication of the teachers and the extremely good results the school has been achieving.
A pupil just made a good point about the timing - in the middle of exams. Why couldn't it have coincided with half term - or why couldn't the government have waited until after exam time? It is uncomfortable to see pupils and teachers having to dodge journalists and camera crews.
11.47am BST
Saltley school in Birmingham, another that is being downgraded by Ofsted today and placed in special measures, has put out a statement saying that the Ofsted report into it is "seriously flawed". Here's an extract. The bold is from the Saltley statement, not from me.
According to widespread reporting in the media, Ofsteds inspections of 21 schools in Birmingham were made in response to the so-called Trojan Horse affair, alleging improper influence in schools exercised by extremists. We wish to stress therefore that Ofsted found not the slightest shred of evidence that there is or ever has been such influence at this school. Parents and the wider community may be wholly confident that students here are safe and well looked after ...
In the draft version of its 2014 report, Ofsted used evidence which was apparently gleaned from a Sunday newspaper, not from any observations and interviews at the school itself. The governing body pointed this out and Ofsted deleted the reference. But the fact that Ofsted was prepared to use such evidence, and would have done so publicly if the governing body had not drawn attention to it, raises substantial doubts about Ofsteds professionalism and objectivity. The governing body believes that the report was not written with due respect for appropriate evidence.
11.40am BST
Yesterday the Birmingham Labour MPs Liam Byrne and Shabana Mahmood issued a joint statement about the the Ofsted investigations. Here is an extract.
Now thousands of Muslim parents feel that they and their children are automatically under suspicion, and that the education they receive will be viewed through the prism of counter-terrorism.
We simply do not accept this.
11.33am BST
Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, has issued a statement on the Ofsted Birmingham findings. Here it is in full.
He said that although most schools did not have serious failings, Ofsted did uncover some "unacceptable practice".
The reports are clear that the majority of leadership teams working in schools held the line for students despite immense personal pressure and a very real sense of isolation.
We should take comfort in the willingness of staff to resist intimidation and put their careers on the line to protect their students.
We see three major boundaries: first, governance must be fair and accountable. NAHT has already called for the introduction of formal training for governors along with greater powers to remove governors where there is serious cause for concern. Second, employment practice must adhere to regulation and law.
Most importantly, children educated in state schools should be free from discrimination and entitled to receive a broad and balanced curriculum. This includes teaching in sport, music, science, religious education and sex and relationship education. There are examples where all three boundaries have been crossed.
Given that autonomy has actually been encouraged and vigilance relaxed, in all but the most serious cases schools should first be offered the chance to bring their own house in order.
We also need to learn longer term lessons: we need a confidential route for staff to raise concerns; a clearer statement of the basic entitlement of pupils; a more coherent mechanism to investigate allegations than we have seen in recent weeks; and resources to raise awareness and train staff and governors in the Prevent strategy.
11.23am BST
My colleague Steven Morris has send me more reaction to the Ofsted findings from Birmingham.
Azhar Qaym, a member of the Muslim Association of Birmingham, said the probe into the schools had been politically-motivated.
He said: People have come into Birmingham from London who don't understand the city and don't have our best interests at heart. This is a politically-motivated investigation.
11.19am BST
Here are the key points from the Park View statements (see 10.02am and10.59am.)
Park View educational trust said the way its three schools (Park View, Golden Hillocks and Nansen) had been condemned and put into special measures was "truly shocking".
[Politicians] have put Muslim children from these communities at substantial risk of not being accepted as equal, legitimate and valued members of British society, and they have allowed suspicion to be cast on the aspiration of their parents and anyone else who believes that these children deserve the same rights and excellent standard of education as any other child.
Our schools do not tolerate or promote extremism of any kind. We have made a major commitment to raising all students' awareness of extremism. People who know and have worked with our schools are appalled at the way we have been misrepresented.
10.59am BST
And here is the full statement from Lee Donaghy, assistant principal at Park View school, which he delivered alongside David Hughes earlier. (See 10.02am.)
On behalf of the staff at Park View, I want to say first and foremost that we reject this report's findings. It is simply not true that the school does not do enough to protect our pupils from the risks of extremism.
Every day my colleagues and I work hard to ensure our pupils are disciplined, understand and respect difference and, most of all, achieve well, and in the process gain a full understanding of their religion, the surest guards against extremism of any kind.
10.33am BST
Here's some more reaction to the Ofsted findings. It's from Jahan Mahmood, a Birmingham-based researcher on extremism, who claims the way the Ofsted inspections were carried out risked "radicalising" the children Ofsted is supposed to protect. I've taken the quote from the Press Association.
It beggars belief, how this has been done. The way Ofsted has gone about this is an own goal and in the long run you risk radicalising kids rather than engaging with them.
10.07am BST
Lee Donaghy, assistant principal, at Park View, also condemned the Ofsted report. He said the school was part of the solution, not part of the problem, describing it as a beacon of hope against isolation, poverty, drugs, crime and yes potential extremism.
I will post his full quotes soon.
10.02am BST
Here is the full statement from David Hughes, the vice chair of Park View educational trust. He stressed that he was not a Muslim himself, but a practising Christian.
I have been a governor at Park View school for 17 years and I'm immensely proud of what's been achieved here and what's been done, and very distressed about what happening to undo that work ...
On behalf of staff, students and parents who have worked so hard improve their schools, we are extremely disappointed to confirm that Ofsted has graded Park View, Golden Hillocks and Nansen schools as inadequate and put them into special measures.
9.41am BST
Park View school is responding now to the Ofsted report criticising it.
David Hughes, vice chair of Park View academy trust, told a news conference that the trust wholly rejected the Ofsted findings.
Academy trust confirms Park View, Golden Hillock & Nansen schools put into special measures by Ofsted #trojanhorse
'OFSTED came to our schools looking for segregation and extremism. Did not find any' Park View chair of gov
"Speed with which Park View has been condemned is truly shocking" - chair of academy trust and governor David Hughes #trojanhorse
9.31am BST
Tristram Hunt, the shadow education secretary, has issued this response to the announcement from David Cameron about allowing no-notice Ofsted inspections at schools.
This is an entirely weak and inadequate response by David Cameron to the gravity of the situation in Birmingham. What we're seeing in Birmingham is part of the systematic failings in the current school system.
Cameron's schools policy has delivered a vacuum in the local oversight of our schools, leaving children exposed to falling standards and vulnerable to risks posed by extremists.
9.07am BST
Overnight David Cameron issued the following statement.
Protecting our children is one of the first duties of government and that is why the issue of alleged Islamist extremism in Birmingham schools demands a robust response.
Just what that takeover entails is central to understanding what the Trojan horse row is all about, and the fall-out between May and Gove. It comes down to a definition of extremism.
The claims that have bounced around include allegations of segregated classes, compulsory prayers and incendiary preachers at school assemblies but most have crumbled under examination. So the focus for investigation has slipped from extremism to "an awareness of the risks associated with extremism" in the elided phrase now used by Ofsted inspectors to condemn the schools most heavily involved, such as Park View academy.
Park View academy, the Birmingham secondary school at the centre of the alleged Islamist plot known as Trojan horse, will be told next week that it has failed to adequately warn its pupils about extremism and that staff are intimidated by the school's leadership.
A controversial Ofsted report ordered by Michael Gove and leaked to the Guardian will highlight that one of the reasons why the school previously rated outstanding will be downgraded to inadequate is that teachers have not received enough training in the government's anti-extremism Prevent programme.
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