| SPOTLIGHT |
A man banned from involvement with schools after the ‘Trojan Horse’ affair has met his crowdfunding target to appeal against the Department for Education’s ruling.
Tahir Alam has raised £11,005, exceeding his initial target of £10,000, and hopes to reach a ‘stretch target’ of £18,000 to take his case to the Education Tribunal.
He was barred by then Education Secretary Nicky Morgan in 2015.
In her decision notice she said Alam had engaged in “conduct which is aimed at undermining fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs [and] conduct that is so inappropriate that…it makes a person unsuitable to take part in the management of independent schools”.
Trojan Horse concerned allegations that groups of extremists had plotted to take over the governance of some schools in Birmingham.
On his crowdfunding page, Alam said: “As a former chair and school governor of the Park View Educational Trust, I was caught up in the so-called ‘Trojan Horse’ allegations. I have been accused of ‘Islamic extremism’ and of undermining ‘fundamental British values’, a charge that I categorically refute and reject entirely.”
He said that as the first person banned in this way his appeal would be an issue of “human rights; the right to a fair hearing and equality”.
Alam added: “The case is of wide public importance and affects governors, teachers, parents and students. My case will set the standard for other cases to follow."
The tribunal is due to hear his case next month.
Mark Smulian
