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The Trojan horse row shows the failure of Michael Gove's centralism The Trojan horse row shows the failure of Michael Gove's centralism
(34 minutes later)
Schools in Birmingham are today subject to two separate eruptions. One concerns relations between the education secretary, Michael Gove, and the home secretary, Theresa May, over whether the former "did enough" to counter Islamist extremism – the "Trojan horse" plot – in the schools now considered in his charge. Here Gove might reasonably protest that his colleague should look to her own and stay off his patch.Schools in Birmingham are today subject to two separate eruptions. One concerns relations between the education secretary, Michael Gove, and the home secretary, Theresa May, over whether the former "did enough" to counter Islamist extremism – the "Trojan horse" plot – in the schools now considered in his charge. Here Gove might reasonably protest that his colleague should look to her own and stay off his patch.
The other eruption is more serious. It is Gove's view that England's schools are best run from his desk. His contempt for localism is well known, but Whitehall would not treat a hospital, a factory or a regiment this way. Running an English school in a community that is near 100% Muslim is exceptionally difficult and delicate. Gove would not survive 10 minutes in the job.The other eruption is more serious. It is Gove's view that England's schools are best run from his desk. His contempt for localism is well known, but Whitehall would not treat a hospital, a factory or a regiment this way. Running an English school in a community that is near 100% Muslim is exceptionally difficult and delicate. Gove would not survive 10 minutes in the job.
Nonetheless, he is setting up a regional structure to run schools direct from Whitehall through approved charities and private contractors. What they teach and how it is to be decided by a burgeoning army of inspectors, so far mostly private sub-contractors, under a regime of quantified box-ticking. Gove is an enthusiast for Charles Dickens' Mr Gradgrind, to the letter. Nonetheless, he is setting up a regional structure to run schools direct from Whitehall through approved charities and private contractors. What they teach and how is to be decided by a burgeoning army of inspectors, so far mostly private sub-contractors, under a regime of quantified box-ticking. Gove is an enthusiast for Charles Dickens' Mr Gradgrind, to the letter.
Two things are clear from what has been revealed at the group of schools recently re-inspected. The first is that most of them are excellent on the measure Gove has so far regarded as critical, exam results. The second is that a policy of marrying the school more closely to the local Muslim culture, which seems to have contributed to this success, is controversial. Some schools felt that engaging parents and governors in the school's life and work would avoid open clashes. This involved the risk of entryism which, in some cases, appears to have come unstuck. Two things are clear from what has been revealed at the group of schools recently re-inspected. The first is that most of them are excellent on the measure that Gove has so far regarded as critical, exam results. The second is that a policy of marrying the school more closely to the local Muslim culture, which seems to have contributed to this success, is controversial. Some schools felt that engaging parents and governors in the school's life and work would avoid open clashes. This involved the risk of entryism which, in some cases, appears to have come unstuck.
The answer cannot be distant direct rule by ministers and inspectors operating to a political agenda and, in this case, clearly vulnerable to the personal rivalries of ministers. This is particularly so since this is not so much about schooling but about faith. Religion remains the Achilles heel of English education. Exclusively Christian schools have long seemed acceptable, but there are now cities with Muslim ones – the result of past immigration policies espoused by politicians. The answer cannot be distant direct rule by ministers and inspectors operating to a political agenda and, in this case, clearly vulnerable to the personal rivalries of ministers. This is particularly so since this is not so much about schooling but about faith. Religion remains the achilles heel of English education. Exclusively Christian schools have long seemed acceptable, but there are now cities with Muslim ones – the result of past immigration policies espoused by politicians.
Wielding the blundering cudgels of Whitehall is not the answer. These schools must be governed through local accountability, however patchy, not through Gove's divine right of centralism.Wielding the blundering cudgels of Whitehall is not the answer. These schools must be governed through local accountability, however patchy, not through Gove's divine right of centralism.