A Derby Muslim school at the centre of speculation and rumour over its sudden closure this week is set to reopen on Monday.
A message was posted on Al-Madinah’s website yesterday, stating that the health and safety issues behind the closure had now been “fully addressed”.
The issues had “emerged” after inspectors from Ofsted – Office for Standards in Education – started their two-day inspection on Tuesday.
Interim principal Dr Stuart Wilson wrote: “While it was regrettable that the school had to close at all, the well-being of our pupils will always be our first concern.
“Unsurprisingly, there has been a number of rumours circulating. While unfortunate, my decision to close the school related to a short-term health and safety issue that has now been completely resolved and will not re-occur.
“Our closure was not the result of our Ofsted inspection team deciding to close Al-Madinah School, now or in the future.
“The full findings of the inspection team will be published by Ofsted, in accordance with the time scales laid down by them for all schools, which will be in the next few weeks.
“At this point we would like to pass on our sincere thanks to our pupils, parents and other members of our community for their patience.
“With your continued support, Al-Madinah School will continue on its journey to realise its vision for the community we serve.”
Up to 200 children from the primary site in Friar Gate and secondary site in Nelson Street had a third day without lessons yesterday.
Officials from Ofsted and the Department for Education – which ordered the inspection after complaints were made by staff who alleged they were being forced to wear Muslim dress and make girls sit at the back of classes – were still not commenting on the outcome of the inspection or the future of the school.
An Ofsted spokesman said: “Inspectors are now engaged in writing up the inspection report, which will be subject to the normal assurance checks before final publication in due course.”
The school has refused to comment on the situation to the Derby Telegraph, since the paper exclusively revealed the unrest at the school on September 20, and despite repeated requests for an interview.
Parents who are supportive of the school have been demanding answers about what has been happening since Dr Wilson received initial feedback from the inspectors and immediately decided to close the school. They were informed of the closure in a one-line letter and text.
Al-Madinah is a free school, funded directly with £1.4 million public money from the Government through the Education Funding Agency – which is carrying out a separate investigation – and it does not have any connection with Derby City Council.
As a result, it is largely autonomous and only answers to Ofsted and the Government.
But it is the school’s responsibility to keep parents informed of what is happening and to find alternative education for their children, if it becomes necessary.
Free schools are a flagship policy of Education Secretary Michael Gove and it is understood that the unprecedented speculation and publicity surrounding Al-Madinah School has caused great consternation in Whitehall.
Before Ofsted stepped in, the school was already at the centre of an investigation by the Education Funding Agency into its financial situation.
Meanwhile, shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg said the situation must be “urgently clarified in order to reassure the public”.
In a letter to Mr Gove the Labour MP said: “This is, of course, not the first time that there have been questions surrounding your department’s oversight of a free school.
“While I understand that there is an ongoing investigation, the reports concerning this school are of extreme concern to parents and the wider community.
“Given the confusion as to why the school has closed, and that pupils may be returning to the school on Monday, I would ask that these matters be clarified urgently in order to reassure the public.”
He called on the department to say what “due diligence” was carried out when the school was approved.
And he asked whether there had been “appropriate vetting” of staff and what oversight ministers had had since it opened.