Islamic school condemned after leaflets claiming music is an ‘act of the devil’ are found

AN ISLAMIC independent school has been slated by Ofsted after inspectors found leaflets claiming music and dancing were “acts of the devil”.

Inspectors arrived unannounced at the Darul Uloom Islamic High School in Birmingham, which they previously rated “inadequate”.

Ofsted officials expressed concerns that the school was not protecting pupils from “extreme views”.

The school rejected Ofsted’s findings, claiming it promoted “both Islamic and British values”, but inspectors discovered “highly concerning” leaflets brandishing “extremist views” such as “music, dancing and singing are acts of the devil and prohibited”.

The leaflet is understood to have made reference to music in terms of "public indecency" and the "proliferation of sinful activities".

The Ofsted report stated: “A large number of copies of a leaflet containing highly concerning and extremist views, such as ‘music, dancing and singing are acts of devil and prohibited’, were discovered during the inspection.

"The leaflets were found in areas shared by the school and adjoining mosque which are used by leaders and in areas used by the pupils from the school.”

It warned the school to commit to its responsibility to safeguarding pupils from extreme material and raised questions about the school not following the required curriculum.

Instead of English and mathematics making-up the bulk of teaching hours, inspectors unearthed that Arabic classes took place for “approximately half of the school day”.

The school was previously criticised by Ofsted for what appeared to the segregation of male and female governors.

Ofsted said the school's only female governor sat in an adjacent room during meetings, but the school refuted this, saying the female governor had chosen to sit separately.

A statement from Darul Uloom Islamic High School said: “The right for a person to choose is a universal value.”

The report says the school must take action to meet the requirements of independent school regulations.