Islamic faith school blasted by its own pupils for 'dumb' gender segregation policy
AN ISLAMIC faith school has been criticised by its own pupils for enforcing single sex lessons because it “doesn’t prepare them for modern life in Britain”.
The Islamic faith school is protesting against the inspectors' findings
Inspectors to the school were told by children that they did not agree with the “dumb” segregation policy.
Muslim pupils told the inspectors they feared the controversial policy was having a “negative effect” in terms of preparing them for the real world.
The remarks have emerged after the school, which cannot be named for legal reasons, launched a high court appeal against the Ofsted inspector’s report.
The inspector told Mr Justice Jay that a young female pupil dubbed the gender-based system “dumb”.
Male pupils had also slammed the school’s segregation policy because it is “having a negative impact in terms of preparing them for life”.
The case to have Ofsted's report overturned is currently going through the high court
The inspector made it clear that not all pupils shared the negative take on the school’s policy.
The school’s board contests the report’s finding and is currently undergoing a judicial review to have it overturned.
Pupils at the school allegedly said they thought gender segregation was 'dumb'
Mr Justice Jay was told the Islamic voluntary-aided school admitted pupils of both sexes between the ages of four and 16.
From Year 5, girls and boys are completely segregated for all lessons, break and lunchtimes, as well as for school clubs and trips, the court heard.
If the judge throws out the case then the school and its report can be made public
A judge at an earlier hearing ruled the school could not be named in the press, claiming identifying it would be likely “to generate a media storm and tensions and fears for parents and the local community”.
The judge said if the school's legal challenge failed the interim order could be lifted and the report published.