Muslim school where library books said husbands could beat wives to be taken over by Government

Inspection finds books saying husbands were allowed to beat their wives

The Al-Hijrah School is also currently embroiled in a long legal battle to allow it to segregate girls and boys (Rex)

The Government has ordered the takeover of a state-funded Muslim school in Birmingham where a boy died in March.

Ofsted visited the Al-Hijrah School after nine-year-old Mohammed Ismaeel Ashraf reportedly suffered an allergic reaction and collapsed while at school. He was taken to hospital, but died shortly afterwards.

An earlier inspection found books in the library that said husbands were allowed to beat their wives and could force them to have sex.

A June report said the school was “inadequate”, saying pupils were not “sufficiently” safe and staff were not prepared for medical emergencies.

The school is currently embroiled in a long legal battle to allow it to segregate girls and boys.

Amanda Spielman, chief inspector at Ofsted, told The Sunday Times: “I am deeply concerned about the idea that total segregation of children within a mixed school is acceptable.”

In November, the High Court ruled that Ofsted inspectors were wrong to punish the school on the basis of the “erroneous” assumption that segregation amounted to unlawful discrimination.

The judge said: “There is no evidence in this case that segregation particularly disadvantages women.”

But Ofsted is appealing the decision and a Court of Appeal has been asked to give a final ruling on the issue.