“Trojan Horse” board of trustees resign

The entire board of trustees at the heart of the “Trojan Horse” takeover plot have announced their resignation.

Park View Educational Trust chairman Tahir Alam made the announcement today outside the Academy gates in Birmingham.

The outgoing chairman claimed that “he and his colleagues were proud of the work they had done to turn failing east Birmingham schools around” and were victims of a “coordinated and vicious attack” by the former education secretary Michael Gove and the Department of Education, which forced all three members of the board to step down.

Mr Alam remarked: “We have no regrets, nor do we make any apologies for being part of a dedicated team of professionals who have substantially raised standards.”

He held Mr Gove responsible for Park View being put into special measures and stated his “profound mistrust of Islam is a matter of public record”.

The resignation of the board comes a day after Mr Gove’s demotion was announced, from education secretary in the cabinet to a chief whip.

Mr Alam believes Gove’s demotion provides some reassurance that the Prime Minister has acknowledged “the profound damage that has been caused by his divisive approach”.

The board announced their resignation after a survey – run by union representatives – found that 57 out of 72 staff members at Park View wished to cut ties with the board of trustees and 60 thought that the views of the board did not reflect the views of the school.

Waverley School head teacher Kamal Hanif, Greet Primary head teacher Pat Smart and King Edwards VI Five Ways head teacher Yvonne Wilkinson will form the new board of trustees, replacing Mr Alam, Dave Hughes and Nicola Benyahia.

21 schools were investigated by Ofsted after an anonymous “Trojan Horse” letter – which some regard as a hoax – alleged hard-line Muslims were trying to extend their influence in Birmingham schools.

                                                                                                                                                                Joanna Byrne