CES defends faith schools in wake of Trojan Horse row

This week the Catholic ­Education Service (CES) moved to distance faith schools from the controversy involving the alleged infiltration of Islamic extremism in community schools in Birmingham.

The Ofsted chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, said “a culture of fear and intimidation had taken grip” in five schools that inspectors placed into special measures this week. Some commentators have used the so-called “Trojan Horse” investigation in Birmingham to attack faith schools, prompting the CES statement.

“Many people are confusing extremism with religion. It should be clarified that the alleged problems in Birmingham concern a number of community schools, not faith schools. Catholic schools and other faith schools should not be penalised in response to these allegations,” said the statement.

Greg Pope, the deputy director of the CES, weighed in with a defence of Catholic schools.

“We believe in tolerance and respect for all and that we have a duty to care for the poor and to educate those who are ­disadvantaged. Our Catholic faith has always impelled us to serve the most disadvantaged in our society,” said Mr Pope.

Meanwhile, in Birmingham, an inspections’ adviser in the diocese’s education department, Dr John Lally, claimed that in reporting the Trojan Horse controversy, some newspapers had given a false impression of Islam which he said is “a religion of peace”.

He criticised a list of “British values” which David Cameron said should be taught by all schools, saying it was limited compared with the values taught in Catholic schools. Mr Cameron listed the values as “ freedom, tolerance, respect for the rule of law, belief in personal and social responsibility and respect for British institutions”. Dr Lally also said that a number of schools that had had large Muslim intakes had seen those drop in the last few years since the opening of community schools.