Commissioner appointed to investigate Birmingham schools
15 Apr 2014 02:42 PM
Peter Clarke appointed to review allegations
that schools in Birmingham are being targeted by individuals wishing to push an
Islamist agenda.
The
Department for Education today, 15 April, appointed Peter Clarke to review
evidence in relation to serious allegations that schools in Birmingham are
being targeted by individuals wishing to push an Islamist
agenda.
In
his role as Education Commissioner, Peter Clarke will be accountable to the
Secretary of State for Education. He will investigate the allegations to
understand fully what has happened in the schools of concern, and work closely
with Birmingham City Council to analyse evidence of extremist infiltration in
both academies and council-run schools. He will report back to the department
this summer.
Mr
Clarke’s appointment means allegations which have been the subject of
intense speculation can be examined in a professional and dispassionate manner,
based on established facts. He has substantial and much-respected experience in
leading investigations at a high level.
Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove
said:
I
am extremely concerned by the allegations made in connection to a number of
schools in Birmingham.
I
have already asked Ofsted to inspect a number of schools of concern and these
investigations are ongoing. But wider, more comprehensive action is needed.
These allegations need either to be substantiated and firm action taken, or to
be shown to be baseless. We cannot allow uncertainty for parents or pupils to
persist.
That is why I am appointing a commissioner to oversee
this work. Peter Clarke brings a wealth of relevant skills and experience, and
is very well placed to lead a fair and thorough assessment of the evidence, and
report back to me. We expect he will work closely with Birmingham City
Council.
No
pupils should be exposed to extremist views or radicalisation while at school.
I have tasked Peter Clarke with getting to the bottom of these allegations, so
schools in Birmingham can continue the excellent progress that so many have
been making.
The
Department for Education has maintained close contact with a number of parties
since the allegations were first received, including the police and Birmingham
City Council.
All
schools are subject to a tough inspection regime and the government has been
clear that it will not hesitate to take firm and swift action if pupils are
being let down or placed at risk.
Notes to editors
-
The
Commissioner’s remit will cover both maintained schools and academies
(including free schools, university technical colleges and studio schools). He
will be supported by a small team of Department for Education officials, and
will be able to seek expert opinion and advice as necessary, including from
Ofsted. He is likely to be in place initially for 3 to 4 months before
reporting back to the Secretary of State for Education.
-
This appointment, which is made under statutory powers,
is separate to the Department for Education’s intervention in
Birmingham’s children’s services. The department has already
indicated its intention to appoint a statutory commissioner to oversee these
services, which successive Ofsted inspections have found to be
inadequate.
-
Peter Clarke was an officer in the Metropolitan Police
Service (MPS) for 31 years and has held a number of executive and non-executive
positions in the public and private sectors, including as a non-executive board
member for the Serious Organised Crime Agency from 2009 to 2013. He rose to the
rank of deputy assistant commissioner at the MPS, heading up the Counter
Terrorism Command. He received the OBE in 2006 for his work on the
7/7 bombings the previous year. He is currently a board member at the Charity
Commission.