Luton Islamic school file complaint over “highly-critical” Ofsted report

Olive Tree Primary School in Bury Park, Luton.

Governors at an Islamic school in Luton have made a complaint over a “highly-critical” Ofsted inspectors’ report.

Ofsted found that pupils at the independent Olive Tree Primary School had to ask for toilet paper and wash their cutlery in toilet sinks.

The BBC quoted chair of governors Dr Nurul Islam as saying that a number of issues had been “rectified” and a formal complaint lodged over the report’s findings.

Ofsted said it would investigate and took all complaints “seriously”.

Inspectors found a number of standards were not met, reporting that “inappropriate books” that “did not promote British values” had been found during a previous inspection.

Despite school leaders stating the titles had been removed, the books, including some by a banned author with “extreme views about punishment by death”, were still on the shelves when inspectors re-visited the establishment last November.

The report also raised concerns about health and safety standards in the school, for which Luton Borough Council has safeguarding responsibilities.

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An Ofsted spokeswoman said it did not comment on individual complaints but all schools were inspected “against the same framework and standards”.

She said: “We do not expect faith schools to abandon their religious principles.

“We do, however, expect them to ensure pupils are adequately prepared for life in modern Britain.”

A spokesman for the DfE said: “All independent schools are inspected against the new, tougher Independent School Standards, and where there are concerns a school is failing to meet these standards we will not hesitate to take action.”

 

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