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.
;
Chapter 12 is a go-to for all educationalists from teachers to leaders as it inspires and is part of the book that is the phoenix rising from the ashes of the Trojan Horse debacle.Colin takes us on a roller coaster of a journey, sequencing the historical polit- ical contexts from Labour's high investment and equally high accountability to Gove's vision of leadership encapsulating low investment and high account- ability with 'corporate management' approaches to educational leadership. Amazingly well researched, Colin has collated the historical and present-day theories of school leadership from all angles. He then brings all these vividly to life though citing the lived narratives of exemplary school leaders he has worked alongside in the urban Birmingham context. He sums up what works simply as 'a combination of adaptive leadership and pragmatic interpretation of government education policy from a secure base in the community, driven by a passion for Birmingham's children'. Colin rightly stresses the unique challenges these leaders face and analyses their commonality of moral purpose, values and character - 'quiet leadership at the heart of the moral compass'. The matrix of the three characteristics is key for any aspiring or established leader. Best of all, Colin has distilled the experiences of the urban leaders into ten wise takeaways for the 'survive to thrive' journey. These are the valuable diamonds of wisdom (deliberate pun intended!) such as 'roots to grow and wings to fly' and 'YNWA' (you never work alone) and the superb UNICEF RRSA as a framework for a diverse, equitable and inclusive curriculum.
Meena Wood
;
Colin Diamond, and those he persuaded to write these always illuminating chapters from the viewpoints of community and pr
Colin Diamond, CBE has worked in education leadership roles for over 40 years, including two director of education posts, and as a senior civil servant in Whitehall. Colin took up post as Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Birmingham in 2018 and is passionate about inclusion and social justice, always mindful of his childhood in Liverpool. He also plays in bands and supports Liverpool FC.
