Religious extremists use schools to ‘isolate and segregate’ children and brainwash minds, Ofsted chief warns
from the Daily Telegraph:
Schools are being used by individuals who want to narrow youngsters’ horizons, and in the worst cases “indoctrinate impressionable minds” under the guise of religious belief, the head of Ofsted is warning.
Inspectors are increasingly coming across those who want to “actively pervert” the purpose of education, according to Amanda Spielman.
In a speech today, she will warn schools that they should not assume that the “most conservative voices” of a particular faith group speak for everyone, and that they must not be afraid to “call out” any practices that they feel could have a negative impact on young people.
She will also offer her support to the headteacher of a school that was forced to back down over plans to ban young pupils from wearing the hijab in class, saying school leaders have the right to set uniform rules “as they see fit”.
Ms Spielman will tell a Church of England education conference in central London that while many faith schools are good at promoting tolerance of religions, lifestyles and cultures, there is a difference between showing tolerance and respect for others and “privileging all belief above criticism.”
“Ofsted inspectors are increasingly brought into contact with those who want to actively pervert the purpose of education,” she will say.
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