Press Release: Ofsted Report, Faith Schools are meeting the standards expected of them.
22 Oct 2009
Ofsted Report, Faith Schools are meeting the standards expected of them.
Earlier this year the Association of Muslim Schools UK welcomed the Secretary of State’s request to Ofsted to carry out a survey on the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development of all pupils in independent faith schools. The AMS UK is delighted that having carried out their survey, Ofsted have found the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development of all pupils at these schools to be at least good, and, in some cases, excellent.
This report is an emphatic rebuttal of the allegation, purported earlier this year, that Independent faith schools were not meeting the standards expected from them. Muslim schools have always endeavoured to educate and nurture all pupils in the belief that being a good Muslim requires being a good citizen. The report unequivocally confirms the hard work that is done to prepare pupils to be good citizens.The Secretary of State’s enthusiastic support for working more closely together is welcomed and we hope that the government will do more to encourage the same from those who seek confrontation, rather than co-operation with faith schools. We hope this report will help to strengthen the Secretary of State’s faith in the independent faith schools’ sector and give confidence to the government to resist any further pressure from the small group of people with powerful voices who are unwilling to tolerate faith schools and particularly those schools that support members of minority faith communities.
The AMS UK, on behalf of its member schools, would like to take this opportunity to extend a hand of friendship to those who considered us as a “threat to social cohesion”. We are confident that your sense of justice will ensure that, in the light of this report, you will not only respect our right to exist as independent faith schools under British law but also accept us as different but equal citizens, sharing the same passion to contribute to social cohesion.
AMS Chairman Dr Mohamed Mukadam said, “It is our sincere request to everyone to put ideological differences aside and embrace constructive dialogue, in a sustained effort to work together to improve social harmony and the educational achievement and attainment of all our children. Let us work together to make Britain a safer, fairer and more prosperous country for all.”
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