Commissioner appointed to investigate Birmingham schools allegations

Former counter-terrorism chief Peter Clarke has been appointed by the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, to investigate allegations that some Birmingham schools are being targeted by people wishing to push an Islamist agenda.

The Department for Education announced the appointment on 15 April.

The allegations

The investigation follows the emergence of an anonymous letter, reported in the media last month, which described an alleged plot, nicknamed "Trojan Horse", to take control of schools in Birmingham. The authenticity of the letter has been widely questioned, and many believe it to be a hoax, but it has prompted a wider examination of how some schools are run.

Birmingham City Council has said it has received hundreds of contacts from people raising concerns about schools since the letter became public. Ofsted is already inspecting a number of schools of concern, and those inspections are continuing.

The commissioner's role

As Education Commissioner, Mr Clarke will investigate the allegations to understand fully what has happened in the schools concerned, and will work closely with Birmingham City Council to analyse the evidence in both academies and council-run schools. He is expected to report back to the government in the summer, after three to four months.

The department said the appointment meant the allegations, which had been the subject of intense speculation, could be examined in a professional and dispassionate way based on established facts.

"Firm action or shown to be baseless"

Mr Gove said he was extremely concerned by the allegations. "These allegations need either to be substantiated and firm action taken, or to be shown to be baseless. We cannot allow uncertainty for parents or pupils to persist," he said.

"No pupils should be exposed to extremist views or radicalisation while at school. I have tasked Peter Clarke with getting to the bottom of these allegations, so schools in Birmingham can continue the excellent progress that so many have been making."

Who is Peter Clarke?

Mr Clarke served in the Metropolitan Police for 31 years, rising to deputy assistant commissioner and heading its Counter Terrorism Command. He was awarded the OBE for his work following the 7 July bombings in London in 2005.

Concerns about the appointment

The choice of a former counter-terrorism officer has been criticised by some community leaders and head teachers in Birmingham, who say it risks treating an education matter as a security issue and could stigmatise Muslim pupils and families. Others have welcomed a thorough, independent inquiry.

Birmingham City Council is carrying out its own review, and has appointed a chief adviser to lead it.

Children's services

The appointment is separate from the government's intervention in Birmingham's children's social care services, which have been repeatedly rated inadequate by Ofsted. The government has already said it intends to appoint a commissioner to oversee those services.

Parents at the schools involved have been urged not to jump to conclusions while the investigations continue. The findings of the Ofsted inspections are expected in the coming weeks.