Court of Appeal overturns order anonymising Muslim school which segregates boys and girls
Al Hijrah school in Birmingham brought judicial review proceedings seeking to quash a decision by Ofsted to publish an inspection report into the school. The report concluded, amongst other things, that the policy of segregation was discriminatory. In a judgment in 2016 Mr Justice Jay ruled that Ofsted was wrong to reach this conclusion and required the report to be edited to exclude references to discrimination. He said the rest of the report could be published. The judge also made an order preventing the school from being identified.
Yesterday the Court of Appeal (the Master of the Rolls, Gloster LJ and Beatson LJ) granted an application by Associated Newspapers Ltd to set aside the anonymity order. It will hand down its full reasons at a later date. Ofsted’s appeal against the judgment of Jay J is being considered over the next two days.
5RB’s Adam Wolanski acted for Associated Newspapers Ltd.
Links:
Daily Mail – Al Hijrah school in Birmingham tries to gag Ofsted
Guardian: Court lifts ban on naming faith school in segregation case
BBC News: Faith school in Ofsted ‘sex discrimination’ row can be named