The Accord Coalition has responded with concern to the choice of a former commander of the London Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism investigative unit to lead the Department for Education’s inquiry into allegations about Operation Trojan Horse; an alleged campaign to spread an Islamist agenda in Birmingham schools. The Department’s investigation brings the number of government probes to four – Birmingham City Council are currently holding separate investigations, while a third is being carried out by the Education Funding Agency and is looking into accusations of financial wrongdoing at some of the schools.
Chair of the Accord Coalition for Inclusive Education, Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, said ‘The allegations around Operation Trojan Horse have gained credence because the Government has taken away so many safeguards that would otherwise make it harder for state-funded schools to pursue exclusive agendas. For example, the frequency of Ofsted inspections has been reduced, Ofsted no longer inspects on how schools promote community cohesion, while more and more schools are free to determine what they teach in RE, including not being required to teach about the broad range of religious and non-religious beliefs in society.
‘This case is not so much a security issue, but one of Government policy and complacency. Rather than merely reacting to events, we call on the Government, as a matter of urgency, to require Ofsted to again inspect upon how schools promote community cohesion, as well as encourage faith schools to move away from selecting pupils and teachers by religion and give all pupils an entitlement to broad and balanced Religious Education.’
