Drummond
10-08-2013, 01:29 PM
... for 'arse', of course, read 'ass' ... well, I AM British, so what else do you expect ???
Here's what I'm concerned with in this thread (comments from Jafar may be most interesting ?).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-24440529
Minister threatens Derby's Al-Madinah Muslim free school with closure
A Muslim free school in Derby will be closed unless "unacceptable" teaching standards improve and discrimination against female staff and pupils stops.
In a letter to the chair of the Al-Madinah Education Trust, Education Minister Lord Nash laid out 17 issues.
These included forcing female teachers to cover their hair and failing to carry out background checks on staff.
The interim principal said its pupils were treated equally. The school's trust said it was seeking legal advice.
Dr Stuart Wilson, the acting head teacher, said there were areas the school needed to address and it was co-operating with Ofsted.
When asked if staff and children are treated equally at the school, Dr Wilson replied: "Yes, they are treated equally and fairly."
The Al-Madinah School Education Trust said in a statement on the school's website that "the letter had come out of the blue" and while it intended to co-operate fully with the Department for Education, it would also be speaking to the school's solicitors.
Lord Nash's letter stated if urgent steps were not taken by 15 October, funding will be pulled.
The school was closed for a week on the first the day of an Ofsted inspection on 1 October citing "health and safety issues".
Ofsted released its statement to "clarify media reports" about why the school had closed.
In it, HM Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said: "Inspectors discovered that staff records showing whether they were cleared to supervise children were either missing or incomplete.
"The school remained closed until yesterday [Monday] when inspectors made a return visit to satisfy themselves that the necessary safeguarding arrangements were in place and that there were sufficient numbers of adults with the necessary clearance for the school to function safely."
A full Ofsted report is expected soon, he added.
Discrimination problems
Addressing chair Shazia Parveen, Lord Nash wrote: "The trust has manifestly breached the conditions of its funding agreement by:
Failing to ensure the safety of children at the school
Delivering an unacceptably poor standard of education
Discriminating in its policies and procedures towards female staff
Failing to discharge its duties and responsibilities in respect of the governing body
"I will not tolerate breaches of the commitments you gave when entering into the funding agreement," he added.
He has urged the school's trust to take five "urgent steps" by 15 October, including providing written confirmation that "you have ceased any practices and procedures that have as their reason, cause or effect that women and girls are treated less favourably than men and boys".
So, it looks like efforts are being made to make Muslim schools conform to at least MINIMAL teaching and conduct standards, of the type which should apply to British schools generally.
Here's 'The Independent's' report ....
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/muslim-free-school-almadinah-in-derby-faces-closure-over-practices-which-discriminate-against-girls-and-women-8866408.html
The school was forced to close down last week after inspectors from education standards watchdog Ofsted visited it with the acting principal saying this was because of a “health and safety” issue - understood now to refer to the failure to carry out criminal record checks on staff. It reopened on Monday after Ofsted was satisfied there were enough qualified staff on hand.
It also faced allegations that it was discriminating against girls by forcing them to sit at the back of the class - and also compelling women staff regardless of their religion to wear a headscarf and cover their hair.
In his letter to Shazia Parveen, who chairs the Al-Madinah Education Trust, Lord Nash delivers the sternest warning ever given by a government minister to one of its flagship free schools, saying: “Unless swift action is taken to address these concerns in a comprehensive way I will be compelled to terminate the school’s funding agreement.”
In particular, he wants the Trust to ensure by next Tuesday, that all Criminal Records Bureau checks on staff have been completed and written references for every employee taken up.
In addition, he wants written confirmation that any discriminatory practices which have led to women and girls being treated “less favourably than men and boys” have ceased - and that staff have been told they are not required to cover their hair if it is contrary to their religion or beliefs.
By the following week, Lord Nash has ordered the school to advertise for a new permanent principal and ensure all school governors have the “requisite skills, experience and commitment necessary to govern the school”. satisfy ministers that the curriculum is “broad and balanced”, and draw up an action plan to deal with all the school’s failings.
His letter follows two departmental investigations into the school - by the Department for Education’s international investigations and audit division and the Education Funding Agency. In addition, Ofsted’s report on the school - said to be highly critical - is expected to be published within the next few days.
In a statement today, chief schools inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said the school had reopened after inspectors made a return visit to ensure the right checks - i.e criminal records checks - were in place, He said inspectors had found staff records “showing whether they were cleared to supervise children were either missing or incomplete”.
Al-Madinah declined to comment on the letter. Today Stuart Miller, its acting principal, said it had reopened after addressing “ a short-term health and safety issue that has now been completely resolved and will not reoccur”.
On its website, it describes itself as having “a strong Muslim ethos” .....
Do you agree, Jafar ? Does what Ofsted found, and what the Minister has taken action against, conform to 'a strong Muslim ethos' (especially the discriminatory practices and lack of criminal checks !!!), and if so, in furtherance of Muslim practice and expected deference to it, would you require the British education establishment to just let them get away with it all ?
Here's what I'm concerned with in this thread (comments from Jafar may be most interesting ?).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-24440529
Minister threatens Derby's Al-Madinah Muslim free school with closure
A Muslim free school in Derby will be closed unless "unacceptable" teaching standards improve and discrimination against female staff and pupils stops.
In a letter to the chair of the Al-Madinah Education Trust, Education Minister Lord Nash laid out 17 issues.
These included forcing female teachers to cover their hair and failing to carry out background checks on staff.
The interim principal said its pupils were treated equally. The school's trust said it was seeking legal advice.
Dr Stuart Wilson, the acting head teacher, said there were areas the school needed to address and it was co-operating with Ofsted.
When asked if staff and children are treated equally at the school, Dr Wilson replied: "Yes, they are treated equally and fairly."
The Al-Madinah School Education Trust said in a statement on the school's website that "the letter had come out of the blue" and while it intended to co-operate fully with the Department for Education, it would also be speaking to the school's solicitors.
Lord Nash's letter stated if urgent steps were not taken by 15 October, funding will be pulled.
The school was closed for a week on the first the day of an Ofsted inspection on 1 October citing "health and safety issues".
Ofsted released its statement to "clarify media reports" about why the school had closed.
In it, HM Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said: "Inspectors discovered that staff records showing whether they were cleared to supervise children were either missing or incomplete.
"The school remained closed until yesterday [Monday] when inspectors made a return visit to satisfy themselves that the necessary safeguarding arrangements were in place and that there were sufficient numbers of adults with the necessary clearance for the school to function safely."
A full Ofsted report is expected soon, he added.
Discrimination problems
Addressing chair Shazia Parveen, Lord Nash wrote: "The trust has manifestly breached the conditions of its funding agreement by:
Failing to ensure the safety of children at the school
Delivering an unacceptably poor standard of education
Discriminating in its policies and procedures towards female staff
Failing to discharge its duties and responsibilities in respect of the governing body
"I will not tolerate breaches of the commitments you gave when entering into the funding agreement," he added.
He has urged the school's trust to take five "urgent steps" by 15 October, including providing written confirmation that "you have ceased any practices and procedures that have as their reason, cause or effect that women and girls are treated less favourably than men and boys".
So, it looks like efforts are being made to make Muslim schools conform to at least MINIMAL teaching and conduct standards, of the type which should apply to British schools generally.
Here's 'The Independent's' report ....
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/muslim-free-school-almadinah-in-derby-faces-closure-over-practices-which-discriminate-against-girls-and-women-8866408.html
The school was forced to close down last week after inspectors from education standards watchdog Ofsted visited it with the acting principal saying this was because of a “health and safety” issue - understood now to refer to the failure to carry out criminal record checks on staff. It reopened on Monday after Ofsted was satisfied there were enough qualified staff on hand.
It also faced allegations that it was discriminating against girls by forcing them to sit at the back of the class - and also compelling women staff regardless of their religion to wear a headscarf and cover their hair.
In his letter to Shazia Parveen, who chairs the Al-Madinah Education Trust, Lord Nash delivers the sternest warning ever given by a government minister to one of its flagship free schools, saying: “Unless swift action is taken to address these concerns in a comprehensive way I will be compelled to terminate the school’s funding agreement.”
In particular, he wants the Trust to ensure by next Tuesday, that all Criminal Records Bureau checks on staff have been completed and written references for every employee taken up.
In addition, he wants written confirmation that any discriminatory practices which have led to women and girls being treated “less favourably than men and boys” have ceased - and that staff have been told they are not required to cover their hair if it is contrary to their religion or beliefs.
By the following week, Lord Nash has ordered the school to advertise for a new permanent principal and ensure all school governors have the “requisite skills, experience and commitment necessary to govern the school”. satisfy ministers that the curriculum is “broad and balanced”, and draw up an action plan to deal with all the school’s failings.
His letter follows two departmental investigations into the school - by the Department for Education’s international investigations and audit division and the Education Funding Agency. In addition, Ofsted’s report on the school - said to be highly critical - is expected to be published within the next few days.
In a statement today, chief schools inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said the school had reopened after inspectors made a return visit to ensure the right checks - i.e criminal records checks - were in place, He said inspectors had found staff records “showing whether they were cleared to supervise children were either missing or incomplete”.
Al-Madinah declined to comment on the letter. Today Stuart Miller, its acting principal, said it had reopened after addressing “ a short-term health and safety issue that has now been completely resolved and will not reoccur”.
On its website, it describes itself as having “a strong Muslim ethos” .....
Do you agree, Jafar ? Does what Ofsted found, and what the Minister has taken action against, conform to 'a strong Muslim ethos' (especially the discriminatory practices and lack of criminal checks !!!), and if so, in furtherance of Muslim practice and expected deference to it, would you require the British education establishment to just let them get away with it all ?