Schools Minister Lord Nash sent a strongly worded letter to chair of governors at Al-Madinah School on Thursday.
It follows the publication of an Ofsted report and the passing of the first deadline he set for Tuesday, October 15, to start putting things right at the Derby school.
In it, he refutes Shazia Parveen’s suggestion that the Government has acted prematurely over concerns about the school.
He wrote: “Contrary to the your suggestion that I have acted prematurely, I am even more convinced of the need for very decisive and urgent action on the part of the trust to comply with all your obligations and remedy the serious failings at the school.”
The full letter reads:
Dear Mrs Parveen,
Thank you for your letters dated 13 October 2013. I have also received the list of staff you sent me on 15 October 2013 and copies of your letters to staff and parents regarding the staff dress code.
It is important to correct a misunderstanding on your part regarding Ofsted’s role. Ofsted is not the regulator for your school. It has the function of carrying out inspections of independent schools, including academies. But it is not up to Ofsted to decide if the Trust has breached the undertakings it gave in the funding agreement. The decision rests with the Secretary of State. The Trust is operating an independent state-funded school. This Department will determine whether you are fulfilling the contractual promises you gave when the funding arrangement was signed.
I have read Ofsted’s report dated 17 October, 2013. It fully confirms the grounds for the very serious concerns raised in my letter of 8 October, 2013. The report is further compelling evidence of the breaches of the funding agreement I have required you to address.
Contrary to the your suggestion that I have acted prematurely, I am even more convinced of the need for very decisive and urgent action on the part of the trust to comply with all your obligations and remedy the serious failings at the school.
John Nash