Up-dozen-schools-London-face-new-Trojan-Horse-inquiry-claims-Muslim-extremists-imposing-hardline-views-classrooms.html

Schools in Tower Hamlets, east London, are among alleged extremist hubs
Inquiries into independent Muslim schools in the area in 'early stages'
The borough has one of the strongest Muslim communities in the capital
A Tower Hamlets address was searched by anti-terror police this week
Five schools in Birmingham placed in special measures earlier this year
Islamic extremists had been promoting fundamentalist material
Department of Education said it would consider 'any evidence' of extremism

By Matt Chorley, Political Editor and Jennifer Smith for MailOnline

Published: 08:18 GMT, 28 September 2014 | Updated: 11:42 GMT, 28 September 2014

Independent Muslim schools in London are being investigated amid fears that hardline Islamic extremism is being promoted among pupils and staff,

As many as a dozen private schools in Tower Hamlets, east London, are being looked into by officials over reports that fundamentalism is being spread, MailOnline can reveal.

A Whitehall source said while investigations are in 'their very early stages', there is concern within the Department of Education over a number of fee-paying Muslim schools in the borough which has one of the strongest Muslim communities in the capital.

At least a dozen independent Muslim schools in Tower Hamlets, east London (pictured), are facing investigations into claims Islamic extremists are pushing their hardline views through the classroom

Unlike the 'Trojan Horse' scandal which saw secular schools in Birmingham being infiltrated by extremists, the affected institutions in Tower Hamlets are all thought to be Muslim.

Five schools were placed in special measures in Birmingham earlier this year after evidence suggested the views of Islamic extremists were being pushed upon pupils and staff.

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The Department of Education would not confirm whether there was evidence to suggest Tower Hamlets was specifically at risk, but said it would consider 'any evidence' brought forward.

A spokesman said: 'If any evidence of extremism is presented to us we will investigate it.

'All schools are subject to a tough inspection regime and we have been clear we will not hesitate to take firm and swift action if pupils are being let down or placed at risk.

'Keeping our children safe, and ensuring our schools prepare them for life in modern Britain, could not be more important.'

Yummy Yummy, a sweet shop in Tower Hamlets, was searched as part of an ongoing police investigation into terrorism offences earlier this week

Earlier this week an address in the area was searched as part of an ongoing police effort to crack down on terror.

Eleven men were arrested across the capital and in Stoke-on-Trent as part of the Scotland Yard effort.

It comes as Ofsted prepares to publish the findings of 40 snap inspections across the country, launched amid concerns that some schools were not offering a broad enough curriculum.

Jewish, Christian and Islamic schools were among those visited in Luton, Bradford, London and Manchester

Ofsted's damning verdict on Trojan Horse schools (related)

Former terror chief Peter Clarke told ministers earlier this month it was likely allegations of extremist infiltration at the schools involved in the Trojan Horse scandal could be applied to other institutions across the country.

TOWER HAMLETS: THE ONLY LONDON BOROUGH WHERE ISLAM IS LARGEST RELIGIOUS GROUP

Tower Hamlets is the only local authority in London where Muslims account for the largest single religious group.

An estimated 35 per cent of the population practise Islam, compared with 4.4 per cent across the country according to the 2011 census.

Almost half of all residents are aged between 20 and 39.

In July, its mayor Lutfur Rahman sparked controversy by calling for the Palestinian flag to be flown above the town hall in a show of support Gaza.

Jewish groups condemned the move as 'destructive'.

Last month a black and white flag, similar to the kind brandished by ISIS, was taken down from the entrance of a housing estate in Tower Hamlets by a nun.

Sister Christine Frost removed it as she feared it would incite aggression.

This week a sweet shop called Yummy Yummy was searched as part of an anti-terror operation by Metropolitan Police.

Eleven men were arrested as a result of the city-wide effort.

Golden Hillock School, Nansen Primary School, Park View School, Oldknow Academy and Saltley School - which are all run by the Park View Educational Trust - were placed in special measures following complaints.

Giving evidence to the Commons education select committee, he said it was incumbent on the government to investigate the situation.

'I'm not a great believer in coincidence and I would find it very surprising if this was only happening in the few schools that we had the time and opportunity to look at in east Birmingham,' Mr Clarke told the cross-party group of MPs.

'Some of the people who were involved in promulgating these techniques of gaining control and influence in schools have had national roles in various educational bodies and I know have lectured and taken part in conferences in other cities.'

Earlier this month an inquiry into the Birmingham school heard a 'violent, extremist' video was shown in the classroom.

Ian Kershaw, a former head teacher, told the Birmingham City Council that examples of 'bad behaviour' in the school included the film, which was 'completely inappropriate to young people'.

He described this film as a 'violent, extremist video', and when committee chairman Graham Stuart asked if it was 'jihadist, violent, extremist promotional video', Mr Kershaw indicated that it was.