OFSTED and Islamic 'schools'

nheather

I get fed up with all this pussy-footing about when it comes to religious schools.  OFSTED found clear evidence of racist and homophobic teaching and materials.  That is clearly illegal (inciting hatred) so shouldn't be down to OFSTED - the police should just go in and arrest the head and the governors - charge them with hate crimes.

BTW - the schools in question have been Islam and Judaism based.

Cheers,

Nigel

thefragile

I think the point is "free schools" shouldn't be allowed to be as non secular schools.

Something I'd agree with

Trollslayer

Turning things around again.
Schools of any faith should be held to the same criteria.

stanga

But where do you prioritise inspection and enforcement resources?

It's the real world we have to live in - hard times and harder decisions.

Trollslayer

Oh, I don't know.
Follow the evidence as you get it?

stanga

So you follow the evidence as you get it from the inspectors. Where do you prioritise sending the inspectors (the question you haven't answered)?

Pecker

We're in danger of discussing different topics and getting them muddled.

Most faith schools are state schools which receive a little extra funding (5%) from the church.

They are subject to OFSTED inspection, and are closely regulated.

In principle I object, but in practice, on balance they're bringing in extra funding to the education system, and they're really not a problem.  My kids go to a CofE school (it was closest, and they'd been to Nursery in the same grounds), and there's no indoctrination.

These 'free' school, for me the problem isn't that they're religious, it's that they're 'free'.  It's not difficult to imagine all sorts of dodgy goings on, quite apart from religion.

Steve W

thefragile

There's also all sorts of dodgy funding going on with academies.

It seems the government has turned a blind eye to dodgy goings on in schools in order to alleviate funding commitments from the state.

Trollslayer

Did I say from the inspectors? yet again you put words into my mouth.

Cliff

Quite agree. We are in danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Many CofE and R/C schools do provide a high standard of education, and no indoctrination. A few prayers here and there and a nativity play. Just because we have Islamic schools that are failing and need serious attention for all sorts of reasons does not mean we should stop all religious schools.