Two people have been convicted for running an illegal school for the first time ever in England and Wales.
The landmark case saw headteacher Beatrix Bernhardt, 38, and director Nacerdine Talbi, 47, found guilty of running the Al-Istiqamah Learning Centre in Southall, west London.
A three day-trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how Ofsted inspectors visited the centre, inside an office block, and found more than 50 children between five and 11 years old being taught.
Photographs of lesson plans and homework diaries taken by inspectors showed the centre was being run as a school.
It is illegal to run a full-time educational establishment that has not been registered as a school with the Department for Education.
Following Wednesday’s conviction, Lynette Woodrow, from the CPS, said: “This is the first prosecution of its kind against an unregistered school in England and Wales.
“The centre claimed it simply provided tuition to home-schooled children but using witness statements and photographic evidence collected by Ofsted inspectors, the CPS was able to prove this was not the case.
“It is a criminal offence to run an unregistered school and we will take steps to prosecute those responsible where there is the evidence to do so.”
Bernhardt and Talbi were given a three-month curfew between 9pm and 6am. Bernhardt was fined £400 plus an £85 victim surcharge and Talbi was fined £300 plus an £85 victim surcharge.
