Trojan Horse rules stopping us being a Christian school, governors warn

New rules designed to prevent infiltration by Muslim extremists are stopping a Christian primary school from operating in line with its founding principles, the Education Secretary has been warned.

The governors of Trinity Christian School in Reading, Berks, have issued a direct challenge to Nicky Morgan over the way rules introduced in the wake of the Tojan Horse scandal are being applied by inspectors.

Staff at the school, which caters for pupils up to the age of eight, were warned they are failing to meet the new standards which require schools to actively promote “British values” of democracy and tolerance.

It comes less than a year after the school was rated “good” by Ofsted inspectors and graded "excellent" for its provision for children’s “spiritual, moral, social and cultural development”.

An inspection report last November noted that the pupils were “well prepared for life in modern, multicultural, democratic British society” because they were taught Christian principle of “love thy neighbour”.

But following a further inspection earlier this month, carried out because of plans to expand, it was warned that it was being downgraded.

The headmistress, Jean Dandy, says she was told that she must bring in representatives of other faiths to lead assemblies and lessons in order to demonstrate compliance with the new standards.

Staff say they were also told they must provide evidence that the school “actively promoted other faiths”.

They complain that they were also warned they should teach children about the people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act, such as sexuality and must not teach them that “certain lifestyles are wrong”.

Details of the complaint are set out in a letter sent to Mrs Morgan last by John Charles, the chairman of the governors.

“From November 2013 to October 2014 the school has continued the same provision for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development which Ofsted adjudged excellent in November 2013,” he said.

“Yet, immediately following the introduction of the revised school standards, the school is threatened with the prospect of closure.

“We cannot understand how such a change in thinking can take place within a year.

“It is an explicit aim of ours to encourage pupils to serve and respect other people, appreciate different cultures and ideas and equip them for life in society.

“But the comments made by Ofsted, as a result of the new regulations, undermine our aims and would prevent us from teaching in accordance with our Christian foundation.”

Urging Mrs Morgan to review the way in which the rules are being applied, he added: “We are extremely concerned about where the new school standards leave the protections afforded by the Equality Act and our school’s charitable objects as established in its trust deed.”

The school is being backed by the Christian Institute, the campaigns against potential threats to religious liberty and has supported Christians involved in a series of high profile cases.

It follows complaints from orthodox Jewish schools about recent inspections in which girls from strict traditional backgrounds were allegedly asked whether they had boyfriends and if they knew where babies came from.

A spokeswoman for Ofsted said: “The independent school standards are set by the Department for Education.

“Inspectors must check that independent schools follow these.

“The standards have been strengthened since this school was previously inspected in November 2013.

“One of Her Majesty’s Inspectors visited the school at the request of the Department for Education and found it had further work to do to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain.

“Ofsted did not threaten the school with closure and has no powers to close schools.”

A DfE spokesperson said: “If the school is concerned about the conduct of an inspector or that an inspection is faulty, it should follow Ofsted's formal machinery for raising those concerns.

“The department will consider the Ofsted report when we receive it.”