Inspectors praise Muslim school for girls

OFSTED inspectors who were sent into a Muslim state school to investigate concerns about its safeguarding of pupils have praised it for preparing girls well for modern life in Britain.

The visit to Feversham College, an all girls academy in Bradford, was prompted by a complaint the watchdog received.

Ofsted said the concerns related to safeguarding pupils and leadership and management of the school but declined to give more details.

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The watchdog’s letter to the school following its inspection does not make any criticism about either the school’s safeguarding or leadership and management.

The visit to Feversham took place in the wake of the Trojan Horse row in Birmingham, where claims of Muslim governors attempting to take over schools had been made.

This led to Ofsted investigating schools in the city and placing five in special measures.

At the time Ofsted said it would visit other areas of the country where concerns were raised about schools failing to develop tolerant attitudes towards other faiths and cultures or allowing governors to exert inappropriate influence.

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Ofsted would not say whether the Feversham inspection was linked to similar concerns.

However, its findings, published in a letter yesterday, make no mention of any such issues at the school.

The only area of concern raised was school recruitment.

The school operates an all-
female staff but Ofsted noted that the Department for Education (DfE) was in talks with Feversham about its recruitment policy.

A DfE spokesman said: “All schools must comply with equality law. The Education Funding Agency is working with Feversham College to make sure their recruitment processes are fully compliant.”

The Yorkshire Post was unable to contact anyone at Feversham College yesterday for comment.