A Birmingham school plunged into special measures has again refused to admit council officials who turned up to replace its governors.
The city council’s Interim Executive Board, led by chairman David Willey, was denied entry to Al-Hijrah in Bordesley Green for the second time in less than a fortnight yesterday.
The authority first tried to sack the governors last month after a damning Ofsted inspection report was published.
The document accused governors of ignoring key weaknesses and revealed those running the school were at loggerheads with the local authority.
After being denied entry on May 22, the council threatened to call in the police “if it had to”.
But the authority revealed that Board members had again been refused access yesterday.
A spokeswoman said: “Mr Willey, with a number of specialist local education authority officers, visited the school and were refused entrance.
“The IEB members, together with all officers, withdrew to consider options available to them.
“The IEB is crucial in ensuring the rapid improvement of Al-Hijrah school.
“Poor Ofsted reports have identified inadequacies in the achievement of pupils, the quality of teaching, the behaviour and safety of pupils and the leadership and management of the school.
“The IEB intervention will improve outcomes for children, ensure robust financial management for the benefit of the pupils and will not in any way change the religious character of the school.”
The council would not say when the Board would return.
A small demonstration was staged in support of the school yesterday (Monday 2).
But one parent who attended a meeting over the stand-off on Friday said they could not understand the school’s position.
They said: “We were really frustrated.
“Most of the parents – all they care about is having a good education for their children in an Islamic setting.
“We don’t want our children to be involved in a media farce.
“The council has followed due process. I can’t understand why the school is not following the law.
“As far as I can determine, the school is failing and didn’t look after its finances.
“Had it done a better job then the school would not have found itself where it is.”
No comment was available from the school.
But chairman of governors Waseem Yaqub previously accused the authorities of running an anti-Muslim witch-hunt.