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Oldknow academy
Oldknow academy, one of the Birmingham schools at the centre of the 'Trojan Horse' extremism inquiry. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Oldknow academy, one of the Birmingham schools at the centre of the 'Trojan Horse' extremism inquiry. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Jihadi film was shown to Birmingham schoolchildren, MPs told

This article is more than 9 years old
Head of inquiry into state school 'Trojan horse' allegations says 'violent, extremist, promotional video' should not have been shown

A violent, extremist film promoting jihadism was shown to a group of pupils at Birmingham state school, MPs have been told.

Ian Kershaw, who led an inquiry into the "Trojan horse" allegations in the city, told the education select committee about the video as an example of "bad behaviour" he had come across during his investigation.

The select committee is conducting its own hearings into the alleged plot to impose a hardline Muslim agenda in a group of Birmingham schools.

Giving evidence, Kershaw said he had not been presented with any evidence of attempts to coerce young people into "extremist, violent, jihadist activity". But he added: "That's not to say that there weren't examples of very bad behaviour by some individuals in schools that needed to be corrected and addressed."

Pressed to give examples, Kershaw said: "One would be the showing of a film which is completely inappropriate to young people, that was known by a senior member of staff to have happened and that member of staff in a senior position did not address that as a disciplinary matter."

He described this film as a "violent, extremist video", and when committee chairman Graham Stuart asked if it was "jihadist, violent, extremist promotional video", Kershaw indicated that it was.

"It was shown in one classroom at one moment and that should have been stopped and that should not have happened," Kershaw said.

Peter Clarke, who led a government-commissioned inquiry into the allegations, also said he had heard of the video. "There were some suggestions that that sort of film had been shown or copied by a technician within one of the schools," he said. "But I did not come across direct evidence of the promotion of direct extremism, no."

Clarke had earlier told the committee there had been clear evidence of people who had espoused, were sympathetic to, or did not challenge extremist views.

More on this story

More on this story

  • 'Trojan horse' report suggests Lord Nash is governor of too many schools

  • Rights and wrongs of the Trojan horse schools affair in Birmingham

  • Trojan horse 'politically motivated' and Ofsted's view on jazzy lessons

  • Muslim Council of Britain rejects findings of Trojan horse report

  • Trojan horse inquiry was politically motivated, says former Park View chair

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