This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27739044

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
'Trojan Horse': Government 'incompetent' on extremism risk 'Trojan Horse': Government 'incompetent' on extremism risk
(about 1 hour later)
Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt has accused the government of "incompetence" over its handling of extremism in schools.Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt has accused the government of "incompetence" over its handling of extremism in schools.
The school inspection criteria was not fit for purpose, he said. The school inspection criteria was "not fit for purpose" and needed to be overhauled, he said.
The comments follow a row between cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Theresa May over the issue. His comments follow a row between ministers Michael Gove and Theresa May.
Park View school, one of 21 schools in Birmingham being investigated by Ofsted, is expected to be rated inadequate, according to The Guardian. Park View school, one of 21 schools in Birmingham being investigated by Ofsted, will be rated as inadequate, the Guardian reports.
The inspections came after claims hardline Muslims were trying to take over some Birmingham schools, following the emergence of a "Trojan Horse" letter - believed by some to be a hoax.The inspections came after claims hardline Muslims were trying to take over some Birmingham schools, following the emergence of a "Trojan Horse" letter - believed by some to be a hoax.
'Refused to act''Refused to act'
Education Secretary Mr Gove was asked on Saturday if he was considering his position in light of the row with Home Secretary Mrs May on how best to counter the threat of extremism in schools, to which he replied "no". Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Hunt said he wanted a new criteria for Ofsted school inspections to "make sure schools have a "broad and balanced" curriculum.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Hunt criticised those in the education department for failing to act when concerns about extremism in Birmingham schools were raised in 2010. He said there needed to a "local director of school standards" rather than trying to oversee schools from Whitehall.
He said he thought this was down to "incompetence and negligence". He also criticised the education department for failing to act when concerns about extremism in Birmingham schools were raised in 2010, saying he thought this was down to "incompetence and negligence".
The Ofsted report into Park View is expected to say the secondary school failed to adequately warn its pupils about extremism. In 2012 the school was considered to be outstanding. The Ofsted report into Park View, in Birmingham, is expected to say the secondary school failed to adequately warn its pupils about extremism - two years after the school was considered to be outstanding by the education watchdog.
"How you can go from outstanding to inadequate? And that's because the inspection criteria is not fit for purpose," Mr Hunt told the programme."How you can go from outstanding to inadequate? And that's because the inspection criteria is not fit for purpose," Mr Hunt told the programme.
"We want a much broader criteria to make sure these problems don't arise."
By Alan Soady, Political CorrespondentBy Alan Soady, Political Correspondent
This is not the first time in recent days that Labour has criticised the government over the fallout from the Birmingham schools allegations.This is not the first time in recent days that Labour has criticised the government over the fallout from the Birmingham schools allegations.
But the shadow education secretary, Tristram Hunt, is attempting to broaden the attack, focusing on the oversight of all free schools and academies in England.But the shadow education secretary, Tristram Hunt, is attempting to broaden the attack, focusing on the oversight of all free schools and academies in England.
It taps into a long-running political argument about the concept of free schools - and whether they can be kept in check centrally by the Department for Education rather than by local officials.It taps into a long-running political argument about the concept of free schools - and whether they can be kept in check centrally by the Department for Education rather than by local officials.
But the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, has robustly defended his sweeping changes to England's schools - changes which are central to his vision for education. But the education secretary has robustly defended his sweeping changes to England's schools - changes which are central to his vision for education.
He will specifically address the question of oversight of schools in Birmingham when the Ofsted reports into the schools at the centre of the allegations are published next week.He will specifically address the question of oversight of schools in Birmingham when the Ofsted reports into the schools at the centre of the allegations are published next week.
Later in a speech to the centre-right think tank, Policy Exchange, Mr Hunt said: "He [Mr Gove] must come to the House of Commons on Monday and place on record why he refused to act on warnings, why he rejects the evidence of the need for local oversight of schools, and why he thinks that more of the same is the answer." Later in a speech to the centre-right think tank, Policy Exchange, Mr Hunt said that no school should be judged "as good or outstanding" by Ofsted unless it delivered a broad and balanced education.
At the same event Mr Gove spoke of his intention to make sure all children learn to read and write to a better standard by the time they come to leave primary school. He said: "He [Mr Gove] must come to the House of Commons on Monday and place on record why he refused to act on warnings, why he rejects the evidence of the need for local oversight of schools, and why he thinks that more of the same is the answer."
At the same event Education Secretary Mr Gove spoke of how tougher penalties would be brought in for parents who do not ensure their children "attend school ready to learn".
He also pledged to make sure all children learn to read and write to a better standard by the time they leave primary school.
Mr Gove was asked on Saturday if he was considering his position in light of the row with Home Secretary Mrs May on how best to counter the threat of extremism in schools, to which he replied "no".
Earlier, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said she believed neither Mrs May nor Mr Gove had got to grips with the issue of extremism.Earlier, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said she believed neither Mrs May nor Mr Gove had got to grips with the issue of extremism.
She said there had been a lack of co-ordination across government, with the Department for Communities and Local Government being marginalised.She said there had been a lack of co-ordination across government, with the Department for Communities and Local Government being marginalised.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood has been asked to investigate the row between the home secretary and the education secretary.Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood has been asked to investigate the row between the home secretary and the education secretary.
The Ofsted reports into the Birmingham schools are due to be published on Monday.The Ofsted reports into the Birmingham schools are due to be published on Monday.