ACT - The Association of Christian Teachers

STATUTORY DIRECTION TO NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL IN
RELATION TO CHILDREN’S SERVICES UNDER SECTION 497A (4B) OF THE
EDUCATION ACT 1996
WHEREAS:
1. The Secretary of State for Education (“the Secretary of State”) has noted in
respect of Northamptonshire County Council (“the Council”) that performance
of children’s social care services has significantly deteriorated, as detailed in
Ofsted’s letter dated 13 November 2018 following a focussed visit carried out
on 17 and 18 October 2018 (“The 2018 Ofsted letter”).
2. On 10 May 2018, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local
Government issued Directions to the Council (“The MHCLG Directions”) under
section 15(5) and (6) of the Local Government Act 1999 (“the 1999 Act”).
These Directions followed the report dated 15 March 2018 of the Best Value
Inspection of the Council by Max Caller CBE, published and given to the
Council on 15 March 2018. The MHCLG Directions provided for
Commissioners appointed by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities
and Local Government (“The MHCLG Commissioners”) to exercise functions of
the Council associated with governance and scrutiny, appointment of statutory
officers and strategic financial management.

Read the detail.

The education inspection framework (EIF) has been underway for over a month now. Although it’s early days, first impressions are that it’s been well received by the leaders and staff at the providers we’ve inspected so far. This is down in part to the hard work and quality of our inspectors. It’s also down to the work we carried out ahead of the framework change, both through consultation with the sector and our extensive research and piloting programme. The EIF is the most evidence-based inspection framework that Ofsted has ever produced.

A change of approach in one area also means that we have to think about the link through to other areas we inspect. The EIF has implications for the inspection of initial teacher education (ITE) partnerships.

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A man leading protests against primary school LGBT teaching in Birmingham has criticised a fellow campaigner for his language during one of the rallies.

A High Court hearing was told the man, referred to as the "imam from Batley", shouted "there are paedophiles in there", outside Anderton Park school.

Birmingham City Council wants an injunction which stops rallies outside the school gates to be made permanent.

Protest organiser Shakeel Afsal said he had not invited the man to take part.

The school in Balsall Heath has been at the centre of a campaign in which some parents and activists are trying to stop its LGBT relationship teaching. Many claim it contradicts their Islamic faith and is not "age appropriate".

In May, the High Court granted a temporary injunction banning demonstrations at the school gates.

The latest hearing will decide whether this ban will be made permanent.

Mr Afsar, his sister Rosina and Amir Ahmed are named on the current injunction.

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The head teacher of an unregistered school, prosecuted for operating it illegally, has said it has a "unique" approach and will remain open.

Nadia Ali, of Ambassadors High, in Streatham - which an inspection found "wilfully neglected" safeguarding - was given community service last month.

She called the pupils "happy learners" and denied it was breaking the law, as it was now open 18 hours a week only.

Ofsted has urged improved legislation to deal with unregistered schools.

By law, any institution with more than five full-time pupils has to be officially registered and inspected. Government guidance defines full-time education as more than 18 hours a week.

The south London school, which describes itself as having an Islamic ethos, says it charges £2,500 a year per pupil and had 45 children on the roll at the time of its last inspection. But it has not yet met standards required to register.

Ms Ali told the BBC's Today and Victoria Derbyshire programmes the school had remained open as its work with the children was "quite unique".

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