A Muslim faith school accused of imposing strict Islamic practices has closed after the first day of an investigation by Ofsted over a 'health and safety' issue.
The schools regulator was today completing a two-day visit to Al-Madinah, in Derby, which has been accused of ordering women to wear the hijab scarf regardless of their religion and sitting girls at the back of classrooms.
The news came on the day the Daily Mail published the account of a teacher who revealed she quit the free school because she was told her business suit was indecent.
The Al-Madinah school, in Derby, has today closed temporarily over 'health and safety' issues after the first day of its Ofsted inspection
The Daily Mail has today published the account of 'Jane' who quit her job at the school after she was told her business suit was indecent
Writing on the school's website, acting head teacher Stuart Wilson said the school would close temporarily.
He said: 'Owing to a health and safety issue, I have taken the decision to close the school to primary and secondary pupils until I am confident that all children are safe on site.
'As parents, you will be informed directly, and on the website, when you are able to send your children back to school. I expect this to be in the very near future.
'Assuring you that we have your children’s best interests at heart.'
It is understood that the move was linked to concerns about safeguarding pupils.
Ofsted said the school's principal Stuart Wilson took the decision after inspectors shared their initial findings with him.
An Ofsted spokesman said: 'As a result of findings that our inspectors have shared with the principal during the first day of the inspection, we understand that he has written to parents informing them that the school will be closed to parents today.
'The inspection of the school will continue as planned.
A Muslim member of staff from Al-Madinah School. Other members of staff are claiming they have been asked to wear headscarves
'We have also informed the Department for Education and the local authority of our initial findings.
'As the inspection is in progress, it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.'
A Department for Education spokesman said: 'We were already investigating this school before allegations became public.
'We discussed the problems with Ofsted and it launched an immediate inspection. We are waiting for Ofsted’s final report and considering all legal options.'
The Daily Mail has today published the account of a teacher referred to as 'Jane', who has taught in Derby for nearly 20 years.
The free school, which opened in September 2012, has also drawn criticism for allegedly sitting girls at the back of classrooms
The school, one of the newest of the Government-sponsored free schools, asked her to dress modestly, covering her hair and ensuring she did not show any flesh apart from her face, hands and feet.
She said she abided by the request, but was told her grey suit with a skirt below the knees, thick knitted black stockings, calf length-boots and covered head was 'abhorrent' by a male teacher at the school.
He allegedly told her she had failed to observe 'common decency' and her outfit was, he deemed, ‘figure hugging’ and immodest.
‘That encounter in the lift with this Muslim male teacher made me feel like a slut. It was the final straw'
- Teacher 'Jane'
She said: ‘That encounter in the lift with this Muslim male teacher made me feel like a slut. It was the final straw.
‘My husband took a photo of me in my school outfit after I returned home that afternoon. It shows that my head, arms and legs were completely covered up in line with the rulings of Islam.
‘I walked away from Al-Madinah and I have not been back. It seemed to me that the school was more concerned about how I dressed than losing a good teacher who was doing well for the pupils there.
‘In class, I always wore a black cap from Next or a scarf as a head covering as a sign of respect for the school and Islam.
‘But, if I had known that it was compulsory for non-Muslim women staff [to cover up] before I started the job, I would never have accepted the post.’
Today, the glass doors leading into the school on Nelson Street were locked but the lights were on as parents demanded answers as to why it was closed.
Ofsted was today completing a two-day visit to the school which has been accused of ordering women to wear the hijab scarf regardless of their religion
Signs on the door said the school was having an Ofsted inspection.
A spokesman for the school, who did not want to be named, said the school was closed today. When asked when it would reopen, he said: 'We don't know.'
He declined to comment further.
Parents arrived at the secondary sector of the school after receiving a one-line letter advising them of the closure yesterday afternoon when they went to collect their children.
THE AL-MADINAH FREE SCHOOL: HOW THE SAGA HAS UNFOLDED
The Al-Madinah free school first hit the headlines last month on September 20, when it was reported teachers had complained they were being ordered to wear the hijab, even if they were not Muslim.
Employers said they were 'concerned' by its practices, which included banning non-halal food and forcing female pupils as young as four to sit at the back of the class away from boys.
Female members of staff said they had been told to sign new contracts which forced them to wear the hijab and banned them from wearing jewellery or bringing non-halal food on the premises.
Two days later, the school's former headteacher Andrew Cutts-McKay said the establishment was controlled by religious hardliners who ban children from singing or reading fairy tales.
Mr Cutts-McKay resigned from his role as head of al Madinah School in Derby in August, two months after deputy Suzanne Southerland stepped down from her post.
Both allege they were 'bullied and sidelined' by members of the school's trust, which is predominantly Muslim. The school strongly denied the pair's claims.
On the same day it was revealed Michael Gove had ordered Ofsted inspectors to immediately investigate the school.
And last week a Christian teacher claimed she was forced out of the school after being put under pressure to follow the Muslim dress code.
The primary sector of the school on Friar Gate in the city was also closed for an Ofsted inspection.
A 39-year-old woman who arrived with her two sons, aged 11 and seven, said they had been told they could come in to ask any questions after receiving the letter.
She said: 'We've been told the school has been temporarily closed for health and safety reasons. They haven't told us what they are.
'They said the school should be open to children again by Monday.'
She said she had been pleased with the school and its education before the closure.
'I'm very happy with the education. My concerns are about the closure of the school.
They said there had been a few issues but not enough to close the school.'
The mother said she had been told by one teacher at the school that girls were made to sit at one side of the room and boys the other.
'It is not a problem,' she said.
She said, as far as she was aware, it was 'not compulsory' for staff to wear the hijab.
Mohammed Ali, whose six-year-old daughter attends the school, said parents needed answers about what was happening.
The 35-year-old father said: 'It has been one month that my child has been attending this school and just yesterday they give us a one-line letter from the principal saying they are going to shut the school without any reasons.
We need answers.
'We've been really pleased with our six-year-old daughter's education so far. I'm really happy with the school. But we want to know what is actually going on.
'We've been reading the reports in the local newspaper and I'm not happy because there are other issues reported in there. As a parent we are really concerned.'
He said he had asked Ofsted about the investigation and they said they could not tell him how long the school would
explain why but they said they didn't have an answer. They said it was a safety issue. When I asked for more information she said it was confidential.
'It's about the future of our children so we need to know. We want answers, we want to know what is going on and what the problems are.'
Another parent who arrived at the school with his wife said they had been told it would reopen within a week.
A spokesman for the school, who did not want to be named, said the school was closed today. When asked when it would reopen, he said: 'We don't know'
Shabid Bhatti said: 'We don't really know what's going on. We're going inside to look at what's happening now but obviously with the teaching side of things we're really happy.'
His wife Kanwal said: 'I'm really happy with the school the last year. I'd definitely send my child to this school. It's a shame they had to close even if it's for a day or however long.'
On the website website of the school, which opened in September 2012, it describes 'a strong Muslim ethos' with shorter holidays and longer school days 'to maximise opportunities for pupil achievement and success'.
It adds: 'At the centre of our school is a community of pupils, able to enjoy learning in a caring Islamic environment which promotes a culture of high expectations and outstanding performance.'
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