Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Caroline Mortimer

Muslim boarding school rated 'good' by Ofsted threatens to expel pupils for mixing with 'outsiders'

()

A Muslim boarding school that threaten to expel students for mixing with "outsiders" has been rated "good" by Ofsted.

In its most recent report, the education watchdog praised the Institute of Islamic Education in Dewsbury for preparing its pupils for the changing needs of British Muslims.

But according to documents handed to parents, seen by Sky News, pupils are forbidden from "socialising with outsiders" and face "expulsion if there is no improvement after cautioning".

The school also provided a Pupil and Parent Handbook which contained a Sharia law section warning that having portable televisions or cameras is forbidden.

The Institute is housed in Dewsbury’s Markazi Mosque compound and is run by the strict Tablighi Jamaat sect.

Read More:
Trojan horse schools inquiries were ‘confused’, claim MPS
Trojan Horse schools are 'still under threat’
Trojan Horse, outside the school gates: 'When I go to college people are going to say: Is he carrying a bomb?'

A mosque elder, Shabbir Daji, told Sky News the school "works for unity" but would not discuss the restrictions saying the school had a policy of "keeping away from the media".

In a statement, Ofsted said independent schools were not assessed on their teaching of "British Values" when the school was last inspected.

New tougher rules to combat extremism were introduced by Ofsted in April 2015 in the wake of the Trojan Horse scandal where a group of hardline Muslims were alleged to have plotted to take control of certain Birmingham schools.

"In April 2015 Ofsted introduced a new, tougher inspection framework in response to more demanding independent school standards, which include an emphasis on fundamental British values," said a spokesman for Ofsted.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.