Students at Trojan Horse schoolsare being denied work experience placements, a Birmingham MP has claimed.
Shadow Schools Minister Liam Byrne, Labour MP for Hodge Hill, has alleged that pupils from Park View Educational Trust schools were being turned down for opportunities to learn on the job by local companies.
“Kids are telling us they have been turned down for work experience as soon as they tell people which school they go to,” said Mr Byrne.
“This really is unacceptable.
“We do not want these children to suffer purely because of the legacy of this scandal.
“I want the business community to come together and to help these brilliant kids to enable them to have a great future.
“We have got a responsibility to these children and I do not want to see them to continue to suffer.”
All three Park View Educational Trust’s schools – Park View in Alum Rock, Nansen Primary in Saltley, and Golden Hillock in Sparkhill– were placed in special measures following snap Ofsted inspections triggered by claims of a plot by hardline Muslims to seize control of classrooms.
Oldknow Academy and Saltley School were also placed in special measures by Ofsted earlier this year.
Ofsted officials have since returned to all five schools to carry out on-the-spot inspections and found that there were still significant problems within them.
Last month Mr Byrne wrote to education secretary Nicky Morgan demanding action to increase parental involvement in the schools claiming the government was delaying help to improve the schools.
Mrs Morgan has now written back to the Labour MP, dismissing his claims that the government had been dragging its feet over turning the trust around.
“I agree with you that it is vital that parents are engaged with their schools, but I do not agree that the opportunity for a fresh start has been lost in this case,” she said.
A Government-ordered report, compiled by former anti-terror chief Peter Clarke, discovered “compelling evidence” of an attempt by hardline Muslims to “gain control” of school governing bodies.
Last week Sir Michael Tomlinson was named as Birmingham’s new education commissioner to help improve the troubled Trojan Horse schools.
The 72-year-old pledged to make “rapid improvements” during his 12-month appointment.
Rotherham-born Sir Michael, who rose from being a chemistry teacher to become Ofsted’s chief inspector of schools, said: “It is vital children in Birmingham receive the highest standards of education and I will be working hard towards that goal.
“We will be making rapid improvements in the coming weeks to provide reassurance to parents, pupils and the local community.”
His appointment followed damning reports after Government and city council investigations into the Trojan Horse furore.
The council report concluded that governors at some Birmingham schools were guilty of serious malpractice – including campaigns of intimidation and bullying which led to heads being forced out.