A
group of Christian schools that use Bible-based education methods are claiming
they have been targeted unfairly by inspectors.
The
independent schools are appealing against Ofsted and seeking advice from the
Christian Legal Centre about whether there is potential for a judicial review on
the grounds that the government's schools inspectorate has exceeded its
powers.
The
nine schools that belong to the Christian Education
Europe network were criticised earlier this year for
failing to promote British values adequately and told they are inadequate or
require improvement. Two of the schools have now closed.
The
schools use the Accelerated Christian Education programme, where the emphasis is
placed on learning rather than teaching and children are taught to take
responsibility and use their initiative.
This
curriculum is based on the Bible and takes children from pre-school at age four
to university entrance at 18.
Among
the criticisms by Ofsted this autumn were failing to teach enough about Darwin's
theory of evolution and about other faiths.
Andrea
Williams of the Christian Legal Centre told Christian Today: "What the schools
are going to do is appeal the Ofsted report. It is inconceivable that a set of
schools that did so well when last inspected now find themselves in the
'inadequate' category or 'needing improvement'.
"Parents
of children at these schools want the children to be educated using the
curriculum that they have. The children do very well on this curriculum. It is
right that parents should be free to decide how their children are educated. It
seems the Ofsted inspectors cannot think outside the national curriculum. There
is a lack of understanding by Ofsted on what this curriculum means for the
children."
Chris
Oakey, principal of Luton Pentecostal Church Christian Academy, claimed Ofsted
had targeted Christian schools to show "even-handedness" after the scandal of
the so-called Trojan Horse plot in Birmingham where Islamists were accused of
plotting to take over schools. "I think they have done it to show they will do
it to everyone and not just the Muslims," he told The
Sunday Times.
Wesley
Richards, of The King's House School, Windsor, said one inspector asked: "Do you
teach pupils about other religions or do you pretend they don't
exist?"
Ofsted
denied it was being unfair and said it had been specifically asked to look at
schools using the Accelerated Christian Education programme.
"Ofsted
said found them to be failing to meet the government's standards in a number of
areas, including safeguarding, leadership and governance, and the quality of the
curriculum. In addition, a number of these schools were not promoting British
values effectively enough."
Last
year, Sir Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of schools, denied that
Ofsted had a political agenda against Christian schools after strong criticism
from MPs following after inspectors issued critical reports on some other
Christian schools.
Labour
MP Alex Cunningham said one parent claimed her daughter had been asked whether
she was a virgin. The headteacher of one of the schools accused Ofsted of asking
inappropriate questions on lesbianism and transexuality.
Grindon
Hall Christian school in Sunderland was among the Christian schools those placed
in special measures in 2014. The latest
inspection of Grindon Hall this summer concluded: "Leaders
and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special
measures."
However, in a spirit of fairness, I must admit that I am
profoundly unimpressed by the ACE system - especially if it remains in any way
similar to what it was like when I investigated it in
1986.
It was designed to cut down on the expense of hiring qualified
teachers, IMHO.
It was not about what was being taught but rather, about
how.
