Ofsted has appointed a leader of a religious school as chairman in what is considered a scoop for the educational watchdog.
Sir Hamid Patel will temporarily enter the top board position until a replacement has been found for Dame Christine Ryan, who has announced her intention to resign in November last year, after a four -year term of office.
He is Chief Executive of the Star Academies Trust, which runs around 40 primary schools and secondary schools in Lancashire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, the Midlands and London – many of which have been excellent.
Members of the Multi -Academy Trust – who has led Sir Hamid since it was founded in 2010 – include various Islamic schools, a Christian school and grammar schools.
He has been on the board of Ofsted since 2019, was knighted for excellent services to education in the Queen's birthday in 2021 and attended the king's coronation in 2023.
Sources understood that Sir Hamid has always been a balanced board member who never came across movements to regulate more hard religious schools, as reported by De Telegraaf.
He has previously sworn to support boys from the white working class and said in 2020: 'Only one in seven white workers' boys will pass on their GCSE in English and mathematics. That is a national shame. '
The National Secular Society has said about the appointment of Sir Hamid, it is willing to support every chairman who maintains equality principles, regardless of sex and religion or faith ' – and the top inspector Sir Martyn Oliver of ofsted has praised him as a leading' some of the best schools in England '.
Sir Hamid Patel (photo) is temporarily in the top position until a replacement has been found for Dame Christine Ryan
The chief inspector of his Majesty Sir Martyn added from the new interim chairman of Ofsted: 'He is a highly respected school and Academy Trust Leader, Knighted for his contribution to education.
“After more than five years in the ofsted Board, I am happy that he is coming up to lead while the State Secretary recruits a permanent chairman.”
The National Secular Society said: 'At a time when religious fundamentalism is increasingly affecting schools, we are willing to support every chairman who maintains equality principles, regardless of sex and religion or faith.
“At SIR Hamid we are to ensure that OFSTED is committed to ensuring that religion does not obstruct educational standards or undermine the fundamental human rights of children to broad and balanced education.”
Sir Hamid was previously the senior lecturer at the Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School in Blackburn.
While he was in the post on the secondary 800 student, it became one of the first schools in the country that encouraged students, in his school rules, to wear a hijab outside of school and in the classroom.
The guidance also noted that students 'have to recite the Quran at least once a week' and not bring in a stationery that shows 'non-Islamic images', such as photos of Popstars.
In 2010, the school was criticized for allowing a Saudi-Arab spiritual called Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais to visit the school after he described Jews as 'pigs' and prayed for God to 'end the Jews'.
Sir Hamid used to be the main teacher at Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School (photo) in Blackburn
The National Secular Society said: “At SIR Hamid we are in favor of ensuring that Ofsted is committed to ensuring that religion does not hind educational standards or undermine the fundamental human rights of children on a broad and balanced education.” Shown: file photo
Sir Hamid commented on the visit when he spoke with The Sunday Times in 2013: 'The girls wanted to see this man with five million followers. They had seen him on YouTube. He stayed 20 minutes. '
There has been no suggestion that the remarks of the spiritual at the school were made.
A spokesperson for the campaign to anti -Semitism said: “We hope that Hamid Patel will take on a higher degree of control in his new role than he seemed in his previous occupation.
“British Jews will understandably ensure that a person who has invited a man who reportedly described Jews as 'pigs' to speak to children will be responsible for assessing the performance of schools.”
Schools in the Star Academies Trust now organize visiting speakers of several religions, including Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.
As teachers, the appointment of Sir Hamid criticizes Ofsted for proposed changes in the inspection methods.
They would see assessments of one words from schools deleted in favor of a more extensive report card, after the death of senior lecturer Ruth Perry, who took her own life in January 2023 after her school was insufficiently assessed during inspection.
But teachers were worried that the reforms would create more work for them and are just as high commitment and anxiety inducing for school management as the current assessments of one word.
In a speech yesterday, chief inspector Sir Martyn defended the proposals, who will consult until 28 April.
Dame Christine Ryan announced her decision to resign last year as chairman after a destructive independent assessment that criticizes Ruth Perry's suicide.
