Police are investigating an ugly confrontation between the headteacher of a primary school that came under scrutiny during the Trojan horse probe and a group of parents.
Officers were called to reports of disorder at Welford primary in Birmingham after a group of parents allegedly attacked the efforts headteacher Jamie Barry is making to improve diversity and inclusiveness at the school.
It is understood that around six police cars attended the primary school in the Handsworth area of the city and helped calm the situation. Officers are investigating whether any offences took place.
During the Trojan horse inquiry into claims that Muslim hardliners had infiltrated some Birmingham schools, Welford came in for praise both for the behaviour of children and for the school’s diversity programme.
But during the meeting in the school hall on Friday morning, some parents expressed anger at the direction the school was taking. The discussion became so heated that the police were called.
Russell Hobby, general secretary of the teaching union NAHT, confirmed the association had received reports of an incident involving a head and a group of parents at the school.
Hobby said: “Schools should be places of respect and calm, where people can work and learn without fear. Government has a duty of care to ensure that those tasked with implementing their policies are fully supported and protected.
“The incident shows that tensions between schools and communities can run high in the wake of Trojan horse. Birmingham’s new commissioner, Sir Mike Tomlinson, has a big task ahead of him to stabilise the situation.”
The school’s website front page has a quote from Martin Luther King: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” The school code reads: “At Welford we respect each other’s age, disabilities, gender, race, religion, gender identity and sexual orientation.”
Barry recently spoke up in favour of an initiative called Chips – Challenging Homophobia in Primary Schools. At the time he said: “Differences exist and we don’t shy away from recognising those differences.”
Welford is a large primary school. Nearly all pupils are from minority ethnic heritages and two-thirds speak English as an additional language. The percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is almost double the national average.
The school was not one of those criticised by inspectors during the Trojan horse probe. An Ofsted report concluded that the school’s safeguarding arrangements met requirements. The report said: “The headteacher is committed to putting the equality of opportunity, valuing diversity and promoting inclusion at the heart of the school’s work.”
It also praised the behaviour of the children: “Pupils feel safe and well cared for and parents strongly support this view. They mix well and play together regardless of their heritage, gender or religion. Pupils know how to behave appropriately and they usually do.”
West Midlands police confirmed they were investigating. Chief Inspector Dean Hatton said: “Police were called to a report of a disorder at Welford primary school at around 10.15am today during a meeting of a large group of parents. Officers arrived and found no disorder. We are working with the school and parents to establish if any offences were committed.”