A Muslim pupil was reported to counter-terrorism police after a series of school concerns including a complaint about not having a prayer room.
The same child, a pupil at Parkfield Community School in Birmingham, also expressed ‘concerning’ views about the Charlie Hebdo massacre and allegedly told female Muslim pupils they needed to cover their faces with a head scarf.
The pupil was referred under the government’s Prevent Duty initiative which provides guidance to teachers on spotting signs of extremism.
Over the last 12 months the school, which caters for 741 pupils aged 5-11, has had three pupils referred to the Counter Terrorism Unit.
All three children were referred after staff were concerned about their behaviour.
Speaking on the Radio 4 Today programme this morning, headteacher Hazel Pulley confirmed children had been referred to the CTU and was asked to give examples.
She said: “The children, were for example, on a residential trip. One child, particularly, was emphatic we had to have a prayer room, yet we don’t have one in school.
“We respect our community wholeheartedly but it’s the fact it was a change from the practices that we have in school.
“It was along with other behaviours we saw at that time. It was as if in a different environment I can do different things, which was concerning.
“The child was also encouraging girls who may have removed their headscarf just for an activity, or maybe had not worn one to go on the residential… was saying that girls needed to wear scarves.
“We don’t have that at school so why would we when they are removed from school?
“The pupil was referred for a number of incidents which, put together, formed concerning behaviour.
“As well as demanding a prayer room and his comments about scarves he also expressed a view to a teacher about the Charlie Hebdo attack.
“He was offering an alternative view but this was raised as a concern. We referred it to the council’s Prevent Support Team who passed it onto the authorities.
“We undertook a round-table discussion with the pupil’s parents. Initially they did not think it was that important but they were very supportive and understood our concerns.”
Mrs Pulley declined to say whether the child was still a pupil at the school, their age or gender.
The school, rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, has been praised by Birmingham City Council for it’s ‘No Outsiders’ campaign which is aimed at teaching pupils British values.
