The Trojan Horse affair sent shock waves across England's education system in 2014. The affair centred around an anonymous letter that contained instructions on how to take over schools with a majority Muslim population by influencing their governing bodies and undermining head teachers. The authenticity of the letter remains hotly disputed, yet its publication generated huge turbulence - not only in Birmingham's schools and communities, but also in both Parliament and the national news.
The book offers fresh perspectives based on unique access to information from within the city, written by respected educationalists who have worked successfully in Birmingham for many years both during the Trojan Horse era and since. It explains what led to the publication of the letter, its profound consequences for education in Birmingham, and how it influenced events in the city since.
Crucially the book also opens up an informed discussion around the issues raised during Trojan Horse, such as delivering a well-rounded curriculum suitable for a diverse school community, developing working partnerships in the local area, and boosting the attainment and aspirations of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Colin shares case studies of school improvement in local and national MATs in tough, multicultural urban environments, and how schools worked to develop pupils' social capital. The Birmingham Book reveals how the Trojan Horse affair was handled by the Department for Education as their academies and free schools policies underwent their first major stress tests. Furthermore, the book provides an up-to-date appraisal of the interrelationship between education in England's schools and the cultural and religious practice of the local communities the schools serve - and of the underachievement levels of the different ethnic groups in Birmingham.
Suitable for teachers, school leaders, governors and policymakers.
;
Edited by Colin Diamond, The Birmingham Book shines a spotlight on what really happened during the Trojan Horse affair, and shares informed insights into how its exposure made Birmingham's schools (and the nation's) better and safer.
;
Professor Colin Diamond presides over a cornucopia of authentic and inspir- ing, hitherto untold stories from school leaders; stories of recovery that offer an alternative lens through which to view the kaleidoscope that embodied the Trojan Horse affair.Refreshing and vividly personal accounts of recovery - the existential angst that refines the compassion that inspires motivational leadership - are woven through every chapter and each one offers alternative dimensions through which schools can work relationally with communities.The most compelling takeaways from this book are offered by Reza Gholami and Joy Warmington; a reminder of the importance of preparing and equip- ping teachers and school leaders to work in intersectional spaces, to develop the critical social awareness and cultural humility that enable all learners to flourish.
Razia Butt MBE
;
The writers' views about the effects of the Trojan Horse affair, drawn together by Colin Diamond, are a reminder of the damage wreaked upon the reputa- tion of a city and a part of its community by some politicians and a section of the press determined to find radicalised violent extremism where there was none. The Birmingham Book reveals a deeper and disturbing truth which forces one to consider why it is we have failed to encourage, mentor and pro- mote sufficient numbers of teachers of the Muslim faith to become future leaders in our British schools.
Ian Kershaw
;
Colin Diamond, and those he persuaded to write these always illuminating chapters from the viewpoints of community and professional leaders, deserves our deepest thanks as he calmly sets out the key issues which arose from the extraordinary affair of the Trojan Horse letter - in its way more damaging than the other
