Teach integration to prevent extremism, Government-backed review expected to say

Dame Louise Casey
Dame Louise Casey Credit: Geoff Pugh

Schools should teach integration as part of the curriculum to halt the spread of racism and extremism, a Government-backed review is expected to recommend. 

Dame Louise Casey, who is leading the study, will call for schools to include lessons on character and resilience in their timetable in a bid to end segregation, Whitehall sources said.

Her review is also expected to recommend that pupils in faith schools be forced to mix with other religious groups in order to prevent isolation. 

Dame Louise, who was appointed by David Cameron to tackle poor integration and the threat of extremism in the UK, warned against removing a cap on the number of religious students faith schools are allowed to admit.

It follows Theresa May's decision to abolish the 50 per cent cap for new faith schools earlier this month.

The PM has abolished a cap on new faith schools
The PM has abolished a cap on new faith schools Credit: PA

Instead, different tests should be employed to measure and track integration and pupils from different schools and backgrounds should be made to work together, Dame Louise said.

Her review is expected to highlight the importance of social mixing between different religious groups to end the isolation brought about by teaching children in faith schools.

Speaking at an event in central London she warned that in some areas of the country children grow up believing that half of the population are Asian because communities do not integrate. Such beliefs help spread racism, she warned.  

Dame Louise called for schools to celebrate Christmas, Eid and other traditions to break down barriers within communities and warned that the curriculum and what is taught in schools is essential to tackle segregation.

It follows Mr Cameron's pledge in his speech announcing Ms Casey's review to counter "extremist ideology by standing up and promoting our shared British values."

Yesterday the Prime Minister said people should be free to "stand up" for Christmas. She added: "What we want to see in our society is tolerance and understanding.

"We want minority communities to be able to recognise and stand up for their traditions but we also want to be able to stand up for our traditions generally as well and that includes Christmas." 

The review aims to prevent a repeat of the so-called Trojan horse school scandal in Birmingham, during which a group of Muslim leaders allegedly plotted to remove school staff and governors and take over a group of schools. 

The scandal led to four major inquiries and 15 school inspections amid claims non-Muslim teachers were removed. 

Louise Casey
Louise Casey

Dame Louise said: "I don't want places that just celebrate Christmas or just celebrate Eid. We've got to celebrate all of it and that's just one small example of where you have to take on [the] curriculum ...you cannot have kids growing up in this country when they think for example that 50% of the population are Asian. 

"Because if they do, we're about to turn those kids out into a world where the p-word is still used, where racism is still alive and kicking, and we're not turning them out with a sense that they are going to be resilient enough to face those challenges."

She stressed the importance of teaching in tackling the problem of integration, particularly in faith schools.

Whitehall sources said the review will look at how to force faith school children to mix with those of different backgrounds  in order to halt the sense of isolation which leads to extremist views.

As part of her review, which will be published after Conservative party conference, sources also confirmed that Dame Louise is considering plans to expand National Citizen Service alongside measures to force faith schools to work with others in their area in order to end segregation by religion or race. 

Oldknow Academy, one of the Birmingham Schools at the centre of the 'Trojan Horse' inquiry
Oldknow Academy, one of the Birmingham Schools at the centre of the 'Trojan Horse' inquiry Credit: Getty

Such plans could be similar to the shared education scheme popular in Northern Ireland which aims to forge links between catholic and protestant communities. 

A Whitehall source said lessons in character and resilience could be included in existing areas of the curriculum like personal, social and health and economic education and stressed the importance of social mixing and social action in isolated communities alongside more formal measures. 

Earlier this year Dame Louise told a group of council leaders: "It is not racist to say that the pace and rate of immigration has created a lot of change in Britain and for some people that feels too much ...or that when a school has a large religious minority population, it can change its character quite quickly.

“Not talking about this and the issues that arise from it only creates more tensions.”

Schools should teach integration, Ms Casey's review is expected to say
Schools should teach integration, Ms Casey's review is expected to say Credit: PA

Yesterday Theresa May hit out at universities for implementing "safe space" policies amid concerns that self-censorship is curtailing freedom of speech on campuses.

The Prime Minister said it was "quite extraordinary" for universities to ban the discussion of certain topics which could cause offence. She warned that stifling free speech could have a negative impact on Britain's economic and social success.

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