First religious school leader appointed as new chairman by Ofsted, the education watchdog

Ofsted has appointed a leader of a religious school as its chairman in what is believed to be a first for the education watchdog. 

Sir Hamid Patel will temporarily assume the top board position until a replacement is found for Dame Christine Ryan, who disclosed her plan to step down in November last year, following a four-year term. 

As the chief executive of the Star Academies Trust, he oversees approximately 40 primary and secondary schools spread across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, the Midlands, and London – many of which boast outstanding ratings.

The multi-academy trust, led by Sir Hamid since its establishment in 2010, consists of various institutions including Islamic schools, a Christian school, and grammar schools.

He has been on Ofsted’s board since 2019, was knighted for outstanding services to education in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2021 and attended the King’s coronation in 2023. 

It is understood from inside sources that Sir Hamid has always been a balanced board member who has never stood in opposition to moves to regulate more hardline religious schools, as reported by the Telegraph. 

He has previously vowed to support white working class boys, saying in 2020: ‘Only one in seven white working class boys will pass their GCSE in English and maths. That is a national disgrace.’ 

The National Secular Society has said of Sir Hamid’s appointment it is ‘willing to support any chairman who upholds principles of equality, regardless of sex and religion or belief’ – and Ofsted’s top inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has praised him as leading ‘some of the best schools in England’. 

Sir Hamid Patel (pictured) will enter the top board position temporarily until a replacement is found for Dame Christine Ryan

His Majesty’s Chief Inspector Sir Martyn added of Ofsted’s new interim chairman: ‘He is a highly respected school and academy trust leader, knighted for his contribution to education. 

‘After more than five years on the Ofsted Board, I’m delighted he is stepping up to lead while the secretary of state recruits a permanent chairman.’ 

The National Secular Society said: ‘At a time when religious fundamentalism is increasingly impacting schools, we’re willing to support any chairman who upholds principles of equality, regardless of sex and religion or belief.

‘We urge Sir Hamid to ensure that Ofsted remains committed to ensuring that religion does not impede educational standards or undermine children’s fundamental human right to a broad and balanced education.’

Sir Hamid was previously headteacher at Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School in Blackburn. 

While he was in post at the 800-student state secondary, it became one of the first schools in the country to encourage pupils, in its school rules, to wear a hijab outside school as well as in the classroom. 

The guidance also noted students should ‘recite the Koran at least once a week’ and not bring in stationery which shows ‘un-Islamic images’, like pictures of popstars. 

The school was criticised in 2010 for allowing a Saudi Arabian cleric named Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais to pay a visit to the school, after he had described Jews as ‘pigs’ and prayed for God to ‘terminate’ the Jews. 

Sir Hamid was previously headteacher at Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School (pictured) in Blackburn

The National Secular Society said: ‘We urge Sir Hamid to ensure that Ofsted remains committed to ensuring that religion does not impede educational standards or undermine children’s fundamental human right to a broad and balanced education’. Pictured: File photo 

Sir Hamid commented on the visit when speaking to the Sunday Times in 2013: ‘The girls wanted to see this guy with five million followers. They had seen him on YouTube. He stayed 20 minutes.’   

There has been no suggestion the cleric’s comments were made at the school. 

A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism said: ‘We hope that in his new role, Hamid Patel will adopt a higher degree of scrutiny than he appeared to in his previous occupation. 

‘British Jews will understandably be concerned that an individual who invited a man who allegedly described Jews as “pigs” to speak to children will be responsible for assessing the performance of schools.’

Schools in the Star Academies Trust now host visiting speakers from multiple faiths, including Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.   

Sir Hamid’s appointment comes as teachers voice criticism of Ofsted for proposed changes to its inspection methods. 

They would see one-word assessments of schools scrapped in favour of a more comprehensive report card, following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life in January 2023 after her school was rated inadequate at inspection. 

But teachers worried the reforms would create more work for them – and be just as high stakes and anxiety-inducing for school management as the current one-word ratings. 

In a speech yesterday, chief inspector Sir Martyn defended the proposals, which are under consultation until April 28. 

Dame Christine Ryan announced her decision to step down as chairman last year following a damning independent review criticising Ofsted’s response to Ruth Perry’s suicide.