Schools: Extremism and Intolerance

Lord Pearson of Rannoch Excerpts

Monday 28th March 2022 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Barran (Con)]

The noble Baroness will understand that I cannot anticipate the Queen’s Speech, but I absolutely share her deep concern about the risks faced by children who are in unregistered schools. The Government have said that at the next legislative opportunity, we will seek to address some of those weaknesses. I can confirm that the Government are committed to a register for home-educated children.

[Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, do the Government recall that one of the schools in the Trojan horse scandal is actually called the Al-Hijrah School, thus extolling not only Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to his takeover of Medina, but his massacre there of 600 Jews in one afternoon, after which his religion went on to conquer most of the known world. Does not the name say it all?

[Baroness Barran (Con)]

I really cannot comment on that; I will leave it to the noble Lord to decide for himself.