Bethnal Green Islamic school slammed by Ofsted for ‘book on how women should behave’

From the London Evening Standard

An Islamic boys’ school which “failed to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain” has been rated as inadequate by Ofsted.

Inspectors downgraded Darul Hadis Latifiah in Bethnal Green, which caters for boys aged 11 to 20, after an inspection during which a book was found in the library which promoted “inappropriate” views on “how girls and women should behave”.The school said it was unaware of the book’s presence and that it referred only to the belief women should “dress modestly”.

Very few pupils were able to name “the new British prime minister or were aware of the first female presidential candidate in the elections taking place in the United States of America” during the inspection. Respect for women was taught, but was limited “to the roles of motherhood and families” during Islamic studies,

The two-and-a-half day inspection in October also found a camera inside the “communal area of the toilets” displaying images of students in “plain view” of the reception area. They also found changing rooms and showers were “grimy and disgusting” after mouse droppings and sharp metal were found on the floor. The independent school said it was “preparing a formal complaint” and said the camera only viewed the “washing area”.

 The Ofsted report said pupils risked being “drawn into situations which put them at risk of harm.