A couple of days ago Channel 5 ran an “exclusive” which stated that officials had ignored warnings over extremism. The comments were made by an “anonymous” former senior teacher at Golden Hillock School, depicted in a shadowy short-clip in which she made her revelations. As with most of the reports regarding the Trojan Hoax allegations, most of the sources have not been named. Wilshaw claims to have spoken to many heads in Birmingham for instance, however, dubiously, he does not mention the names. I say dubiously, because given the agenda of some evangelical teachers in Birmigham, his track record, and affirmations from (non-Muslim) sources that he is a Gove-lackey, an extra level of scrutiny is required with regards to the allegations which come out.
As for the “exclusive”, who is the source for this report?
KAREN SLATER
Slater is another practising evangelical Christian linked to the controversial Riverside Church and is alleged to be the “whistleblower”. Her background is interesting. Slater had applied for a deputy role at Golden Hillock School against the advice of Matthew Scarrott, the head teacher. Sure enough Slater did not make the grade (much like most of the students who have been let down there for the past 4 years) and fell through the recruitment process against stronger candidates.
The above would generally be sufficient to dismiss her claims as a disgruntled employee getting her own back. However the “plot” thickens.
Matthew Scarrott was married to a Christian Indian lady. According to sources in Birmingham, it is a well-known fact that when the couple separated a close relationship developed between Scarrott and Slater, to the point that even school children in the playground made jokes about them.
In other words, Scarrot and Slater are linked and given the fact that Scarrott is one of the alleged individuals behind the Trojan Horse letter/instigation of the investigations, it is more than a mere coincidence for Slater to come out and add to the chorus of allegations against the schools in Birmingham.
Allegations against Golden Hillock School
Sources in Birmingham have been able to confirm whether the allegations made by Slater have any validity. Many of her allegations distort and ascribe falsities to the school and their governors.
Slater: “they banned sex education, pressured some staff to wear headscarves and ran a campaign to oust non-Muslim senior teachers.”
According to sources in Birmingham who have confirmed with the school, this is a,
“patently false claim which is deliberately designed to feed into the Trojan Horse claims”.
There is no evidence whatsoever to substantiate such claims, I have been told. Current governors have recently (in February 2014) approved the sex education syllabus without any concerns and the governors are unaware of any claims of forced wearing of headscarves or targeted “ousting” of teachers.
Slater: “There were emails from them [the governors] criticising, questioning, challenging”
It has been confirmed that there have been no emails sent from the current governors to any of the teachers including the head teacher.
Slater: “The jokes were ‘Ofsted didn’t find us teaching children how to make bombs”
Again, these are false allegations against the governors. None of the governors have said this.
Slater: “So I would feel that if someone wouldn’t shake my hand – that it was my fault for offering my hand…”
According to multiple sources it has been confirmed that there is nobody on the current governing body that would not shake a woman’s hand. This is corroborated by the fact that a female Ofsted inspector came to the school and the governors had shaken her hands. Furthermore, the view of “not shaking hands”, is rooted in normative Islam – it comes from the Islamic ruling that unrelated males and females are not permitted to have physical contact. To conflate adherence to Islam with “extremism” reinforces the notion that this is an attack on Islam itself, and is clearly linked to Michael Gove who regards normative Islamic practices as “extremism”, as confirmed by Whitehall officials.
The Survey
The survey highlights three main things: the lack of representation of views, confidence in the governing body and support. More significantly, the survey has nothing to do with extremism.
It has been claimed by Slater that “They claimed that they had the full support of the staff body… They haven’t got the support of the staff body, and a staff survey would certainly reveal that that just isn’t true.” My sources have again confirmed that current governors at Golden Hillock School have never claimed that they have full support of the staff body.
Teachers have been put on performance review to ensure they deliver. The school has been underperforming and the new governing body has only been in place since 4th December 2013. The school, governors and teachers have been under pressure to ensure the school performs. Naturally those who cannot cope will leave, or complain. The irony is that Michael Wilshaw himself has claimed that,
“If anyone says to you that ‘staff morale is at an all-time low’ you will know you are doing something right.”
It is asserted in the report that the survey demonstrates the “depth of anger” from the teachers. However, it is alleged that the staff governor at Golden Hillock School has said in a governing body meeting that she is sure that,
“Staff will support any initiatives from the governing body that strengthen and protect the school’s reputation.”
However sources have claimed that it is the same individual (staff governor) who has instigated the survey, casting doubt on her claims.
Nepotism – What about Slater’s Riverside Church Friends?
The following saying is most apt regarding these allegations: when you point a finger, remember there a three pointing back out you.
With regards to claims of “nepotism”, i.e. that people have been put into place without the necessary qualifications, my sources affirm that it is possible in some cases that the appointments were “questionable”, but stressed that this may have been reflective of the previous governing body at the school. The current governing body had no involvement in such posts.
Interestingly, multiple sources have confirmed that there are most certainly cases of nepotism amongst Slater’s Riverside Church circle in the school. According to sources close to Golden Hillock School, Slater is very good friends with Jo Tyler, another Riverside Church attendee. She started out as a bookkeeper for the school, but under Matthew Scarrott’s leadership, she was accelerated to a position which was specifically created for her – business director – earning circa £60,000 a year. Furthermore, Tyler’s mother is also employed at Golden Hillock as a librarian and Tyler’s husband has been brought in as part of the teaching staff.
It gets worse.
The husband’s best friend has been employed as the care taker of the school, whilst Tyler’s nieces and nephews have been paid to do decoration work around the school during the summer!
I have been informed that these cases of “nepotism” have been communicated to Ian Kershaw who is currently investigating the Trojan Hoax allegations in Birmingham.
Finally, Channel 5 in its report also decides to jump in on the fabrications brigade by claiming that,
“…Golden Hillock School Governors have so far declined to comment.”
This is, once again, completely false; none of the governors for the school were contacted for the Channel 5 “exclusive”.
Concluding Remarks
A network of evangelical Christians are working in synchrony to provide support to the Trojan Hoax claims through various lies, twists and distortions. The Trojan Horse letter, Tim Boyes’ claims of complaints, timed resignations of Matthew Scarrott, Peter Slough and soon his deputy head teacher in Muslim-majority schools, and now Scarrott’s love-interest Karen Slater’s not-so-anonymous “extremism” claims reflecting anti-Muslim neocon Michael Gove’s views, there seems to be a well-oiled initiative to target Muslim-majority schools.
Karen Slater joins Cecil Knight (and possibly Peter Slough), Matthew Scarrott and the infamous Tim Boyes on the list of purported instigators of the attack on the Muslim minority of Birmingham. As I have said in my previous exposé, there are more people out there who know more details. They need to start coming out to help expose the real plot to undermine schools in Birmingham at the expense of the Muslim minority.
CoolnessofHind 
You try to write as a news source, but you are a blogger with no comments or very few on each and every post. However, I will respond because I know a great deal about this from the inside.
So answer if you can please?
You state she was anonymous but most of us knew who she was. As she was conspicuously the only female SMT at the time it was pretty obvious.
The heads have actually all been named in the press several time. I can name them all again if you wish.
What is the agenda of evangelical Christians?
Do you know what an evangelical Christian is?
Do you know that any practising Christian is by default evangelical?
You state that results at Golden Hillock are drastically improved, but they aren’t, it was and is still failing, despite anyone’s efforts. Please explain.
Why is Riverside Church controversial?
You state there were stronger candidates. Do you mean the ones who came from Parkview with no management experience into senior jobs? Or vice versa?
You state that things it is a well known fact that ms slater and mr scarriot were having some kind of affair, is it actually? What are your sources? Is it gossip? Is it Islam approved gossip?
Pressurised to wear headscarves does not equal forced to wear headscarves does it?
You frequently site sources but don’t state who they are. I thought this was a nono? Is it or is it no ok to state information without stated sources?
When you say you are told there is nothing to substantiate the claims, who told you?
How can you confirm the were no emails ever sent from any governor to any teacher ever?
How do you know what governors said in closed meetings and private conversations? Is there something you aren’t telling us? Me?
You just reinforced that male Muslims can refuse handshakes with a female, which is all she said. Firstly, this is a problem in the UK as in most of the world. Secondly, my normal male Muslim friends shake my hand. Always have.
What sources claimed what? Why are you allowed anonymous sources?
Michael Wilshaw quote taken horribly out of context whether you like him or now. Clutching at straws?
Quote “staff will support…” Are you serious?
How does her instigating the questionnaires cast doubt on its claims?
It is silly to equate the nepotism of someone coming in over the summer hols to do a bit of painting with people being promoted internally within an academy way above their experience or ability dictates at the cost of others who are better qualified. Why include this?
It’s gets worse you say. Yes a few people came in and did a bit of painting. Why?
You said the governors were not contacted by channel 5 and so it is not true that they declined to comment. Did you make this up or are you some kind of telepath?
What does evangelical Christian with missionary tendencies mean. To you that you use it is such a negative way?
When did ms slater ever mission to Africa or anywhere else? You can’t have tendencies to mission, you either do or you don’t. It’s like having tendencies to have a pint in the pub. You do or you don’t.
You state lastly the love-interest thing again and I just really want to know. Is this fact or gossip? Pleas expand.
Thanks for taking your time out to comment on the blog. My replies are below your quoted comments/questions.
“You try to write as a news source, but you are a blogger with no comments or very few on each and every post…”
And? That supposed to invalidate my content? Your attempt to undermine the article is poor.
“You state she was anonymous but most of us knew who she was. As she was conspicuously the only female SMT at the time it was pretty obvious.”
So why come on Channel 5 anonymously? Why the spook show in the report? I don’t see the point of this statement, in fact it works against Karen Slater. I have a counter question, who is “us”? Are you Karen Slater? Are you connected to Riverside Church?
“The heads have actually all been named in the press several time. I can name them all again if you wish.”
That’s your prerogative. Again I don’t see the point of this comment.
“What is the agenda of evangelical Christians?”
All in due time.
“Do you know what an evangelical Christian is?”
Yes.
“Do you know that any practising Christian is by default evangelical?”
And your point is exactly?
“You state that results at Golden Hillock are drastically improved, but they aren’t, it was and is still failing, despite anyone’s efforts. Please explain.”
Please reference exactly where I have stated that the results for Golden Hillock specifically have “drastically improved”.
“Why is Riverside Church controversial?”
Allegations of conversions of Muslim teenagers who attended Queensbridge school, allegations of individuals linked to the Church behind a letter which was, despite being established as fabricated, has been used to smear the entire Muslim community of Birmingham. If the allegations were against a mosque the treatment would have been as per the existing treatment of the Muslims in the Trojan hoax fiasco, four levels of investigations, the political establishment as well as national media bearing down. You seem to be rattled by a single blogger.
“You state there were stronger candidates. Do you mean the ones who came from Parkview with no management experience into senior jobs? Or vice versa?”
I presume Scarrott was wrong to advise against Slater’s application? And would that make him an extremist too? I guess Slater’s little circle in the school was brought in with due objectivity too? Interesting how you don’t touch on this in depth in your lengthy comment.
“You state that things it is a well known fact that ms slater and mr scarriot were having some kind of affair, is it actually? What are your sources? Is it gossip? Is it Islam approved gossip?”
My sources are multiple. I find it incredibly hypocritical that you hide behind the enforcement of Islam when it suits you and against the Muslims when it is convenient for you (vis-à-vis shaking hands).
“Pressurised to wear headscarves does not equal forced to wear headscarves does it?”
It seems you are assuming for the Channel 5 reporter as well as Slater, so are you Slater then? There is a clear rejection of this claim as my sources have confirmed, of course you are free to take it or leave it.
“You frequently site sources but don’t state who they are. I thought this was a nono? Is it or is it no ok to state information without stated sources?”
You really have not read my article properly. Read it again. From the beginning and you’ll find the answer to your own questions.
“When you say you are told there is nothing to substantiate the claims, who told you?”
When the Trojan Horse letter was sent in claiming various incoherent allegations, who wrote it? Why wasn’t there a similar level of scrutiny into “sources” then before four separate investigations were launched?
“How can you confirm the were no emails ever sent from any governor to any teacher ever?”
See my response just above.
“How do you know what governors said in closed meetings and private conversations? Is there something you aren’t telling us? Me?”
See my response just above.
“You just reinforced that male Muslims can refuse handshakes with a female, which is all she said. Firstly, this is a problem in the UK as in most of the world. Secondly, my normal male Muslim friends shake my hand. Always have.”
You are conflating two things here. One is the fact that it has been confirmed that the current governors do not hold these views. Slaters’s comments and the chronological layout of statements insinuate this to be the case.
Second is the Islamic legal ruling between male and female contact, which is mutually exclusive from the position of the governors who *do not hold these views*. My highlighting of this was to demonstrate the nexus between Slater’s and Gove’s views on what constitutes extremism. Religious orthodoxy, yes, but extremism? That’s a stretch of interpretation. In fact, your own views are extremist. An extremist is one who opposes British values, and British values include mutual tolerance and respect, both of which are lacking in your comment. The purposes of rights is to protect the minority from tyranny of the majority, and the assertion of religious rights in conjunction with minority rights as understood in accordance with international law (ICCPR Art.27), emphasises the religious uniqueness of each faith. Democracy also promotes pluralism and respect for beliefs and practices of various faiths (as established in various human rights cases). Your misguided, prejudiced views, therefore violate democracy, tolerance and mutual respect. Your views, as well as Slater’s can be construed as extremist.
And to clarify, the issue is not a “man refusing to shaking hands of females”, the converse is also true, Muslim women are to refuse men, does that mean men are now unequal too? The ruling applies equally to men and women. As stressed in the article, the ruling is rooted in non-physical contact. But you neatly skipped over this point.
As for your “normal Muslim friends” (frankly your insinuation that people who hold normative Islamic views are somehow abnormal is disgusting), then good for you, the actions of people are not a proof for the validity of a practice of any faith. Its like saying “I have Christian friends who rob and steal therefore the beliefs must allow them to”. Its absurd.
“What sources claimed what? Why are you allowed anonymous sources?”
When have I prevented others? Please give an exact quote. The entire anti-Muslim media industry practices this, I don’t see you having any qualms about them.
“Michael Wilshaw quote taken horribly out of context whether you like him or now. Clutching at straws?”
Here is the link: http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6145814
We’ll let readers decide who really is clutching at straws
“Quote “staff will support…” Are you serious?”
Indeed.
“How does her instigating the questionnaires cast doubt on its claims?”
Questionable character. You really need to sit in a court and listen to some cases.
“It is silly to equate the nepotism of someone coming in over the summer hols to do a bit of painting with people being promoted internally within an academy way above their experience or ability dictates at the cost of others who are better qualified. Why include this?
It’s gets worse you say. Yes a few people came in and did a bit of painting. Why?”
And the business director? Your comment reeks of hypocrisy. I don’t even need to answer this question.
“You said the governors were not contacted by channel 5 and so it is not true that they declined to comment. Did you make this up or are you some kind of telepath?”
No. Do you believe telepaths exist?
“What does evangelical Christian with missionary tendencies mean. To you that you use it is such a negative way?”
A counter-question, why are Muslims who may adhere to normative Islamic values be viewed so negatively? Again, your comment reeks of hypocrisy.
“When did ms slater ever mission to Africa or anywhere else? You can’t have tendencies to mission, you either do or you don’t. It’s like having tendencies to have a pint in the pub. You do or you don’t.”
I never claimed she went to Africa.
“You state lastly the love-interest thing again and I just really want to know. Is this fact or gossip? Pleas expand.”
You seem to represent Slater well, why don’t you go and ask her, as well as her Riverside Church circle? As clarified before, this information has come through multiple sources.
Just a few points on this ‘defence’.1———————————————————————What is the agenda of evangelical Christians?Do you know what an evangelical Christian is?———————————————————————”Christian historian David Bebbington says: “Although ‘evangelical’, with a lower-case initial, is occasionally used to mean ‘of the gospel’, the term ‘Evangelical’, with a capital letter, is applied to any aspect of the movement beginning in the 1730s.”[3]:1 He notes four distinctive aspects of Evangelical faith: conversionism, biblicism, crucicentrism, and activism, noting, “Together they form a quadrilateral of priorities that is the basis of Evangelicalism.”[3]:3 This definition has been influential.[4]” This is from wikipedia, and it gives an interesting breakdown of what could be what some of our commentators on the right describe as non violent islamism, if I were you id check I wasn’t on a conveyor belt!!2—————————————————————–Do you know that any practising Christian is by default evangelical?——————————————————————”HistoryInfluences from 17th century[edit]The work of the Pietists Philipp Jakob Spener and August Hermann Francke highly influenced Evangelicalism. The Francke Foundations in Halle became the training ground for many priests of the New World, above all for the United States18th century[edit]John Wesley preachingEvangelicalism emerged in the early 18th century in Britain and New England.[3]:20 Howell Harris and Daniel Rowland of Wales are the first discernibly Evangelical preachers.[3]:2019th century[edit]The start of the 19th century saw an increase in missionary work and many of the major missionary societies were founded around this time (see Timeline of Christian missions). Both the Evangelical and high church movements sponsored missionaries20th century[edit]Evangelicalism in the early part of the 20th century was dominated by the Fundamentalist movement after 1910; it rejected liberal theology and emphasized the inerrancy of the Scriptures.”—————————————————————————————————Correct me if im wrong but I was under the assumption that Christianity began 2014 years ago, not in the 17th century, are you sure ALL Christians are evangelical, or maybe your world view ends where Europe and America end?? Maybe you and those narrow minded islamists have something in common, you both want to enforce a particular ideology on co-religonists and their children. If I were you id check I wasn’t on a conveyor belt from non violent extremism to violent extremism.——————————————————————————————————–3. You state that results at Golden Hillock are drastically improved, but they aren’t, it was and is still failing, despite anyone’s efforts. Please explain.——————————————————————————————————-5 a*-c2008 – 28%2009 – 38%2010 – 42%2011 – 52 ? 2012 – 43%2013 – 52%I didn’t go to GHS but even I could tell you 28% to 53% is a big jump, what one might even call ‘a drastic improvement’ – I agree its still below national average and still failing …but going from 28% – 52% results almost doubling (multiplication factor of 1.8 just in case your interested)- could be called ‘a drastic improvement’. (if your wages were to increase by a factor of ~two (1.8), (without sleeping with anyone) , Im sure you’d call that a drastic improvement as well. Has the ground shaken beneath you? Maybe you’re on a conveyor belt? —————————————————————4.Why is Riverside Church controversial?____________________________________________________________________It seems that all roads lead to ….Riverside Church (you thought I was gonna say Mecca?, didn’t you? – you Islamist you!!)Mr Boyce condemns certain schools, governors, parents for advocating a certain type of religious zelatory yet he has a church based in his school (rhymes with Riverside)…if I was a bit younger id say ROFLMAO (google it). Not only that – he has the gall to come on national TV with his mentor Rev John Ray (a former governor in GHS) to tell the whole world how the both of them were warning about extremism years ago. Not knowing they were on shaky ground themselves…or mayhaps they were on a conveyor belt from non violent extremism to …….(fil in the gap)__________________________________________________________________________________The rest of your response / line of questioning is equally laughable and can be quite easily derided. but this is getting longer than i expected. Its interesting to note that you asked a number of questions, which in of itself is not refuting an allegation. Please try harder next time.
Actually, the results were 51% in 2011, http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=103495
And, don’t forget in 2012, the big ‘hoo-ha’ with the national grade boundaries, whist Parkview’s results increased, Golden Hillock did see a massive drop. Considering Small Heath School hit 54% and is still classed as ‘Outstanding’, Parkview and the Governors couldn’t of done a bad job in 2013 with 52% under tougher grade boundaries!
I would consider Golden Hillock School’s results to of ‘Drastically improved’ when other schools are suffering under new grade boundaries. In 2012, with Scarrott, 43%, but it wasn’t 43% in August 2012, it was 38% and ONLY changed months later when correct coursework was handed in but by this time pupils lost places in collage, hence the protest. Bare in mind Scarrott, Slater and their team predicted 58% for that year STILL failing 15% of children who had high expectations. Nevertheless, without Scarrott in 2013, Golden Hillock School achieved 52% and this year is predicting 57%. So from 43% to 52% in 2013 and to the anticipated 57% in 2014 is a significant increase in 2 years whilst other schools struggle. The obvious hint of jealousy from Tim Boyes as his results dropped 2012-67% and 2013-64% when Golden Hillock under Parkview went up and the school he referred to about the plot, Moseley School 47% in 2012 and in 2013 39% not even hitting floor targets failing scores of pupils! Lets look at Cecil Knights old School where Peter Slough is currently, Small Heath School 2012-61% and 2013-54%, oops!
The results can be argued with but there are serious concerns on the motives of certain people that are closely linked to the Riverside Church. A motive that was suggested, Tim Boyes was ignored in 2010 when he went to Parliament to speak to ministers about this ‘plot’ ( which existed in his head), so seeing significant changes (with his friend Scarrott), he had demised this plot, but why? Earlier blogs did indicates that Muslims were converted to Christians and this was pushed through schools for decades. Governing bodies of these schools in predominantly Muslim areas were in reality ‘Church run’ by missionaries like John Ray who openly advocates his work in Kashmir. Slowly with educated parents, they finally started to wake up and get involved in education. This of course started to see lesser and letter missionaries on the Governing bodies, more Muslim teachers, head teachers to inspire children and act as good Muslim role models which of course will devastate any missionary work, then of course Parkview Education Trust that was improving life prospects for these once failing children. To keep the plot alive, people like Tim Boyes, John Ray and Karen Slater will lie and distort facts give this plot substance.
What would be interesting, how would Tim Boyes influences Governors, or have a role in how Governing Bodies are formed in future… WATCH THIS SPACE! You would be surprised what he gets out of it if what I have heard is correct he will be the winner out of the plot.
So sorry about the spelling and punctuation I couldn’t be bothered to check.
No problem!
Well done Coolness of Hind, great articles. Keep up the work good Sir
Amazing work – of exposing the people possibly behind the Trojan hate documents, which is now leading to TOTALLY exposing hypocrites who want to have one rule for them and another rule for Muslims. Must be part of the new British value of equality.
Very defensive of the teacher you alleged to have exposed by the way have you noticed the video and the shadowy picture has disappeared from the Channel 5 website so your sources must have been right. I have practsing christian friends who firmly believe it is wrong to lie and deceive hence they have been upset by this whole thing as much as some of my Muslim friends.
TOTALLY a passing note Muslims are always under-qualified for any job but Christians are always over-qualified. I detect a tinge of racism. But interestingly this TOTALLY confirms that your sources must be quite good,
Oh my god, YOUAREALIAR miss slater
You betrayed the school-.-
Itsfunny how this started as soon as youleft.
Targeting Muslims as per usual.. *yawn*
Lol a lady said ‘forced to wear headscarves’ uno, lies,lies,lies!
There ain’t no “Islamic extremism” at Golden Hillock School. Say nothing inittttt
What started after Karen Slater left? The Trojan horse enquiry? What? Sad. It’s really sad. I live in this area. This is my community and has been for a long time and I love it. How many of you all do? This Trojan horse business has only caused heartaches for us in as much as people like you jumping on the band wagon have. You are all playing silly little games and I wonder if this is because this is not your community you are playing games with.