A Muslim free school in Derby is told it must take “swift action” to address concerns over the way it is run or face the prospect of closure.
Al-Madinah Free School has failed to keep pupils safe, provide a good education and has discriminated against female staff, according to a letter sent to the school by Lord Nash.
The schools minister said that the school had “manifestly breached” its conditions, and can expect to be closed down if it does not make immediate changes.
Lord Nash’s letter orders the school to provide evidence within the next week that it has stopped any practices that lead to women and girls being treated “less favourably” than men and boys, and to notify all of its staff that they are not required to cover their hair if it is against their religion or beliefs.
It says: “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; and 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.”
The letter, addressed to Shazia Parveen, chairwoman of governors at Al-Madinah Free School, also sets out other action that the school must take in the next few weeks, including satisfying the government that its curriculum is “broad and balanced” and that it is welcoming to children of all faiths and none.
Lord Nash warns: “Unless swift action is taken to address these concerns in a comprehensive way I will be compelled to terminate the school’s funding agreement.”
This effectively means that the school will face closure if it fails to deal with the government’s concerns.
Al-Madinah, which is one of the government’s flagship free schools, opened in September 2012.
On its website, it describes “a strong Muslim ethos” with shorter holidays and longer school days “to maximise opportunities for pupil achievement and success”.
It adds: “At the centre of our school is a community of pupils, able to enjoy learning in a caring Islamic environment which promotes a culture of high expectations and outstanding performance.”
Recently, there have been reports in the media that female teachers at the school were forced to wear hijabs even if they were not Muslim.
Other reports claimed that female pupils were made to sit at the back of the classroom and males at the front.
Interim Principal Stuart Wilson told the BBC last week that he had not received any complaints from colleagues over the school’s dress code and denied that pupils had been split up.
"The school is struggling to see how we are being treated comparably with other schools."
A robust response from the al-Medinah Muslim free school in Derby, writes Channel 4 News Home Affairs Correspondent Darshna Soni.
Throughout the last few days, the school has refused to talk to the press. However, today it wrote to all parents.
In a letter, the school's governing body expresses surprise at the level of scrutiny it has received.
We understand that on Tuesday, the school was visited by five Ofsted inspectors and three representatives of the education funding authority.
In the letter, it writes: "To our knowledge, having eight external professionals closely examining the work of a school with just over 400 pupils is unprecedented."
Many parents I spoke to agreed with the letter. "Why is everybody focusing on our school?" one mother asked me, as she arrived to collect her children.
"Is it because it's a Muslim school?"
The school has also sent a second letter to parents, seen by Channel 4 News.
In the letter, the schools apologises for the fact that it had to close for three days last week, for an urgent Ofsted inspection.
It admits "many parents may be upset by the initial findings of the Ofsted report when it is published."
I asked the parents whether they had any concerns about what that report may find.
I also asked them about the concerns that had been outlined by the Department of Education - that female staff had been discriminated against and about financial irregularities.
"No, I don't," said one dad. "We chose this school because we feel others in the area are not very good academically.
"We've been really pleased with my daughter's progress in reading here and that's what matters."
While Ofsted’s findings have not been finalised and none has been published, reports suggest the watchdog will judge it “inadequate”, the lowest rating.
Lord Nash’s letter comes on the same day that Ofsted confirmed that its report into Al-Madinah Free School, which was forced to close last week just hours after inspectors arrived, is due to be published in the next few days.
The school’s inspectorate also confirmed that the principal of Al-Madinah school in Derby took the decision to shut due to inspectors’ concerns that records showing whether staff were cleared to supervise children were missing or incomplete.
The school re-opened to pupils on Monday.
In a statement, Ofsted Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said the school re-opened after inspectors made a return visit to ensure that the right checks – such as criminal records checks – were in place.
“Ofsted began an inspection of Al-Madinah School on Tuesday October 1,” Sir Michael said.
“On the same day, the principal took the decision to close the school as a result of inspection concerns over safeguarding checks.
“Inspectors discovered that staff records showing whether they were cleared to supervise children were either missing or incomplete.
“The school remained closed until yesterday 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.
“In particular, inspectors needed to see evidence that CRB/DBS checks had been properly completed for employees and were held on an accurate, single central register.
“Inspectors are now engaged in finalising the inspection report for Al-Madinah School, which we expect to be able to publish in the next few days.”
Mr Wilson said at the time the school was closed that the decision had been taken on health and safety grounds, later insisting the action was to address a “short-term health and safety issue that has now been completely resolved and will not reoccur”.
The school has also been ordered to prove that it is meeting equality laws in any case where it proposes to separate boys and girls or treat them differently.
It must also provide the Department for Education with a full list of all staff employed by the trust which is responsible for running it, including written references and evidence of criminal records checks for each person.
A spokeswoman for the Al-Madinah said a statement about Lord Nash’s letter would be released later on Tuesday.