Trojan Horse schools are 'still under threat’

Oldknow Academy, one of the Birmingham Schools at the centre of the 'Trojan Horse' affair (Getty Images)

Schools at the centre of the Trojan Horse affair in Birmingham are in danger of falling to extremists again, chief schools inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw has warned.

The Ofsted chief told MPs on the Commons education select committee they were facing grave difficulties in recruiting top-quality staff and should be given extra cash by the Government so that “we can recruit good people to these schools very quickly”.

“I’m enormously impressed by the children and their parents who want these schools to succeed,” he said. “They’ve been badly let down by those governors [hard-line Islamists who sought to control the schools] and they’ve been badly let down by the fact we can’t get enough good leaders and teachers. Unless that happens [getting good teachers], those people who have gone to ground and want to exploit the situation will do so again.”

Five schools were declared failing as a result of Islamic extremism – Golden Hillock School, Nansen Primary and Park View Academy – all run by the Park View Academy Trust – and Oldknow Academy and Saltley School.