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Islamist 'takeover plot': there is no extremism in our school, says governor Islamist 'takeover plot': there is no extremism in our school, says governor
(about 1 hour later)
The chairman of governors at a Birmingham school at the centre of claims about a takeover plot by hardline Muslims has insisted that "there is no extremism" at the institution.The chairman of governors at a Birmingham school at the centre of claims about a takeover plot by hardline Muslims has insisted that "there is no extremism" at the institution.
Tahir Alam said Park View school was run within a strict legal framework and taught the national curriculum.Tahir Alam said Park View school was run within a strict legal framework and taught the national curriculum.
Inquiries have been launched by several bodies, including West Midlands police, the government and Ofsted, into allegations of a takeover plot called "Operation Trojan Horse" at a number of schools in the city.Inquiries have been launched by several bodies, including West Midlands police, the government and Ofsted, into allegations of a takeover plot called "Operation Trojan Horse" at a number of schools in the city.
Alam said: "What we are doing is well within the regulations and the legal parameters."Alam said: "What we are doing is well within the regulations and the legal parameters."
He added: "No assemblies have been done which have praised al-Qaida, nobody has called anybody kuffar in the assemblies, all these allegations have been made … by anonymous individuals."He added: "No assemblies have been done which have praised al-Qaida, nobody has called anybody kuffar in the assemblies, all these allegations have been made … by anonymous individuals."
Alam, director of the Park View Educational Trust, which runs three schools, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There is no extremism being tolerated or promoted in any of our schools."Alam, director of the Park View Educational Trust, which runs three schools, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There is no extremism being tolerated or promoted in any of our schools."
He denied claims that Park View was being turned into a faith school by stealth He denied claims that Park View was being turned into a faith school by stealth.
"Park View is a community school so it doesn't have a religious designation, so we don't have a faith designation, which means that we can't prescribe any religious practice to any pupil."Park View is a community school so it doesn't have a religious designation, so we don't have a faith designation, which means that we can't prescribe any religious practice to any pupil.
"So any accommodation that we may do in relation to catering for the children – for example, if it relates to the prayer maybe, or halal meals or collective worship – all these practices are well within the regulations and the law.""So any accommodation that we may do in relation to catering for the children – for example, if it relates to the prayer maybe, or halal meals or collective worship – all these practices are well within the regulations and the law."
He added: "No child has to wear a headscarf, nobody has to go to prayer in a compulsory manner … only 5-10% of our children pray during lunchtime."He added: "No child has to wear a headscarf, nobody has to go to prayer in a compulsory manner … only 5-10% of our children pray during lunchtime."
The controversy around Birmingham's schools was triggered by an anonymous document setting out details of the claimed Trojan Horse plot.The controversy around Birmingham's schools was triggered by an anonymous document setting out details of the claimed Trojan Horse plot.
Alam said: "The whole thing has been blown out of all proportion. It's based on an anonymous document, unsigned, undated.Alam said: "The whole thing has been blown out of all proportion. It's based on an anonymous document, unsigned, undated.
"I wonder how many other unsigned and undated documents would generate 12 weeks of media hysteria and political storm.""I wonder how many other unsigned and undated documents would generate 12 weeks of media hysteria and political storm."
He added: "The document has nothing to do with me, I don't subscribe to it."He added: "The document has nothing to do with me, I don't subscribe to it."
Alam said he had received Ofsted's report into his school, but could not comment on the details.Alam said he had received Ofsted's report into his school, but could not comment on the details.
Asked if its contents would result in him leaving his post he said: "I can't answer that question and you don't expect me to. We have run Park View as a highly successful school. Our results are amongst the highest in the area.Asked if its contents would result in him leaving his post he said: "I can't answer that question and you don't expect me to. We have run Park View as a highly successful school. Our results are amongst the highest in the area.
"It's something that needs to be replicated not removed.""It's something that needs to be replicated not removed."
Birmingham Perry Barr's Labour MP, Khalid Mahmood, told the programme some of the city's schools had changed their behaviour because of the scrutiny.Birmingham Perry Barr's Labour MP, Khalid Mahmood, told the programme some of the city's schools had changed their behaviour because of the scrutiny.
He told Today: "They have basically realised that they are now being focused on and from that point of view they have quite significantly changed the attitudes and the way that they were teaching, the way that they were holding assemblies, the way that they were having different lessons, the way the children were being segregated in class.He told Today: "They have basically realised that they are now being focused on and from that point of view they have quite significantly changed the attitudes and the way that they were teaching, the way that they were holding assemblies, the way that they were having different lessons, the way the children were being segregated in class.
"I have no objection to any of this, as long as this was open and transparent and this was a proper religious school applied for. These were state schools and these weren't proper religious schools and turning that into a religious school is where the conflict became more and more difficult to manage.""I have no objection to any of this, as long as this was open and transparent and this was a proper religious school applied for. These were state schools and these weren't proper religious schools and turning that into a religious school is where the conflict became more and more difficult to manage."