Faith schools enforce gender segregation among staff members, chief inspector warns

Male and female staff members of some independent faith schools are being segregated because of their gender, a chief inspector has warned.

In one case, teachers and other school staff at a Muslim day school in Luton were separated during whole-school training sessions. Leaders of Rabia School had reportedly instructed men to stay in one room while the session was broadcast to women in a separate part of the school.

Ofsted inspectors gave feedback that the same school had used a dividing screen to separate men and women across the middle of the room during an initial Ofsted meeting.

In a letter to Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said the evidence seen by the schools watchdog had raised “serious concerns”.

“The school insisted on segregating men and women,” he said. “This meeting was not carried out in a religious setting but in a classroom.”

The issue was raised following an emergency follow-up inspection of the school requested by the Department for Education (DfE) earlier this month. Rabia was one of three independent faith schools to receive further inspection and has received a series of adverse Ofsted judgements in the past.

In a letter seen to Ms Morgan, seen by The Independent, Rabia Education Trust denied the claims.

A school spokesperson said: “It is inaccurate that the school insisted on segregation. We feel that we are being unfairly targeted and harassed by HM Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw.”

In reference to the segregation screen seen by inspectors, Rabia Education Trust said the meeting had taken place in a prayer hall, adding that female management had placed the screen in the room before the male staff arrived, but “didn’t insist” upon it being used.

The school claims the recent inspection “was not an emergency follow-up” and that “both the female and male inspectors were satisfied” that staff members were integrated.

Last year, the school was criticised for treating boys and girls differently, limiting girls to sewing and knitting in design and technology classes.

Mr Wilshaw said Ofsted was so concerned about the “behaviours modelled” by the leaders of Rabia that the school had been graded as “inadequate” despite improvements being made within the school elsewhere.

“This sort of behaviour manifested by the leaders of this school clearly does not conform to the spirit of the equalities legislation which underpins the spiritual, moral, social and cultural standard,” he said.

The findings go against the equality regulations and requirements set by the Government for “fundamental British values” to be taught in schools.

Speaking in light of the positive feedback the school had received in other areas of the inspection, Rabia officials said: “We feel extremely disheartened and insecure about the fact that the goalposts are not clear.”

“We, like some of Her Majesty’s inspectors, didn’t realise that we are going against fundamental British values by using a [segregation] screen.”

In his letter, Mr Wilshaw urged the education secretary to further review the DfE guidance to independent schools and contact the school leaders about the Government’s expectations as necessary.

He added: “Any form of segregation, without a good educational reason, is likely to lead to an inadequate inspection judgement for leadership and management.”

Last year, Ofsted inspectors reported that four in five religious independent schools were found to be “inadequate” or requiring improvement.

The Department for Education said the Rabia case had been referred to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

A spokesperson said: “It is completely unacceptable for women to be treated less favourably than men, and the advice note we have received from Ofsted on Rabia girls’ and boys’ school is extremely concerning.

“We have referred this case to the EHRC so they can consider whether the school has breached the Equalities Act, and we will consider carefully the inspection report on the school to determine what action to take against any potential breaches in the independent school standards.”