A school dubbed “Britain’s wokest” has been downgraded by Ofsted for prioritising social justice over subject knowledge and skills. The £36,000 a year American School in London (ASL) is now rated ‘requires improvement’ because of ‘failures’ in education.
Some pupils claimed that their views were suppressed during lessons. Subsequently, the school failed a number of Independent School Standards, which ban the ‘promotion of partisan political views’ and demand ‘respect for those with other beliefs’.
According to The Mail Online:
Inspectors visited the previously outstanding-rated school in December after parents complained pupils were being ‘indoctrinated’.
Families said non-white pupils had been recruited to ‘discriminatory’ affinity groups for after-school clubs and children were taught about ‘white fragility’.
Former head Robin Appleby, who introduced the agenda, resigned in November, saying she wanted to ‘focus on her own wellbeing’.
Ofsted’s report, due to be published shortly, said: ‘Teaching places much more weight on the school’s approach to social justice than on learning subject-specific knowledge and skills.’
It added: ‘Not everyone felt that they are able to express their views freely in class.’ Ofsted said that in the lower school curriculum for social studies, pupils ‘spend much time repeatedly considering identity (including analysing their own characteristics) rather than learning, for example, geographical knowledge.’
In middle school, pupils were having to focus on ‘social issues’ rather than ‘skills’ in subjects such as English.
The report concluded: ‘While recognising the importance of promoting equalities, a significant minority of parents and pupils told inspectors that a culture has developed where alternative opinions are not felt welcome.’
The school said that it would continue its equality, diversity and inclusion programmes.
