A former headteacher who urged pupils to “recite the Koran” and “wear hijabs outside of school” has been appointed as the chairman of Ofsted.
Sir Hamid Patel will take up the interim role while a successor for Dame Christine Ryan is found.
This is believed to be the first time a religious school leader has been appointed to the role.
Patel is the chief executive of Star Academies Trust, which runs around 40 primary and secondary schools including Islamic schools, grammar schools and one Christian school.
Sir Hamid Patel will take up the interim role while a successor for Dame Christine Ryan is found
CONFEDERATION OF SCHOOL TRUSTS
He has been on the Ofsted board since 2019, and has led Star Academies since 2010.
Before that, he was the headteacher of Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School in Blackpool.
While he was in that role, guidance at the school urged pupils to “recite the Koran at least once a week”, and “not bring stationery to school that contains un-Islamic images”.
In addition, the school became one of the first in the UK to advise students to wear a hijab outside the classroom.
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The institution also came under fire for allowing a visit from Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais, a Saudi Arabian cleric who had called Jewish people “pigs”, praying for God to “terminate” them.
Speaking to The Sunday Times about the visit, Patel said: “The girls wanted to see this guy with 5 million followers. They had seen him on YouTube. He stayed 20 minutes.”
A spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism – a UK-based organisation dedicated to countering and exposing antisemitism – said: “We hope that in his new role, Hamid Patel will adopt a higher degree of scrutiny than he appeared to in his previous occupation.”
“British Jews will understandably be concerned that an individual who invited a man who allegedly described Jews as ‘pigs’ to speak to children will be responsible for assessing the performance of schools.”
Patel was knighted for his outstanding services to education in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2021 and also attended the King’s Coronation.
He is understood by insiders to be a balanced board member who has not been in opposition to attempts to regulate more religious schools.
The trust’s schools now host speakers from Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Christian and Islamic faiths, and Patel has vowed to specifically help white working class boys.
He said: “Only one in seven white working class boys will pass their GCSE in English and maths. That is a national disgrace.”
The institution had also come under fire for allowing a visit from Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais, a Saudi Arabian cleric who had called Jewish people “pigs”, praying for God to “terminate” them
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The National Secular Society said: “At a time when religious fundamentalism is increasingly impacting schools, we’re willing to support any chairman who upholds principles of equality, regardless of sex and religion or belief.”
They added: “We urge Sir Hamid to ensure that Ofsted remains committed to ensuring that religion does not impede educational standards or undermine children’s fundamental human right to a broad and balanced education.”
Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, said: “Sir Hamid Patel runs some of the best schools in England. He is a highly respected school and academy trust leader, knighted for his contribution to education. After more than five years on the Ofsted Board, I’m delighted he is stepping up to lead while the secretary of state recruits a permanent chairman.”