Threats As Trojan Horse 'Has Not Gone Away'

Schools still face intimidation, including dismembered animals in the playground and even a death threat, in the wake of the alleged Trojan Horse plot, it has been claimed.

The scandal centred on allegations a clique of hardline Muslims trying to take control of a number of schools in the Birmingham area.

Last year, five schools embroiled in the affair were put into special measures following an investigation.

Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, from the city's Anderton Park School, is one of the headteachers who claims little has changed.

"Trojan Horse has not gone away. Those of us who were involved, we knew it was the tip of the iceberg," she said.

"We still have dead animals hung on the gates of schools, dismembered cats on playgrounds.

"We have petitions outside schools, objecting to teachers teaching against homophobia."

She was speaking at the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) annual conference on Sunday, where delegates also complained that no school governor implicated in the alleged plot has been investigated or banned.

The headteachers also called for a database of individuals removed from governing bodies.

Speaking after a debate on the issue, Ms Hewitt-Clarkson said a death threat was sent to her on social media.

She said someone wrote: "Any headteacher who teaches my children it's alright to be gay will be at the end of my shotgun."

Ms Hewitt-Clarkson also said a dismembered cat was discovered in the playground at one school, while another had a dog hanging from the railings.

She added that she was not sure why this was happening and suggested it may be to intimidate people or an accident.

A Government-led inquiry handed down in July last year found "clear evidence" of an Islamist takeover plot at Birmingham schools.

Recommendations made in the Clarke report included limiting the number of governing bodies one person can sit on and preventing certain individuals from being involved in running schools.

But NAHT member Alison Marshall told the conference: "We are still a long way from implementing those recommendations.

"We need to exert pressure to ensure that these recommendations are truly delivered, not in a superficial way and certainly not watered down."

The union backed a resolution raising concerns that the Clarke report's recommendations have not been fully implemented.

But Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, who was not at the debate, said a lot of work has been done on putting the recommendations in place.

"We have taken action to remove and continue to take action to remove people from being in schools who don't follow British values," she said.

She said the Government has been working with local schools and Birmingham City Council to make sure there was no repeat of the scandal.

Mrs Morgan added: "This is a reminder that this is a serious issue and something that is not going to be solved overnight."