British Pakistani Boys, Education and the Role of Religion: In the Land of the Trojan Horse

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British Pakistani children are the second largest ethnic group in UK schools, yet little of their education and wider needs have been researched. British Pakistani Boys, Education and the Role of Religion seeks to rectify this, by investigating the educational achievement of British Pakistani boys and the importance of education both in the Pakistani community and in the wider religion of Islam. The book draws on research undertaken by the author in three British state secondary schools, to respond to the national policy on the education of ethnic minority children. It considers the meaning of education for Pakistanis, where religion plays an integral role, the gaps in education as well as the issue of representation - in governance and in the teaching workforce. The author concludes by discussing the possibility of responsive education better meeting the needs of Pakistani children by integrating Islamic religious education and education of the world. British Pakistani Boys, Education and the Role of Religion will be vital reading for academics and both undergraduate and postgraduate students in the fields of Education and Sociology and specifically those studying inclusion, equality and diversity, or Asian, Muslim or Pakistani education. It would also appeal to education practitioners, policy makers and community activists. Cover Title Copyright Contents List of tables Glossary Acknowledgements 1 Introduction Autobiographical sociology Pakistani-Birmingham; development of a community Pakistani children; a neglected group Pakistani pupil attainment; the situation in Birmingham Pakistani boys; a particular problem Education of minorities; policy responses Policy neglect of Pakistanis The Birmingham response to minority pupils Back to colour-blind education policy Bibliography 2 In the land of the Trojan Horse Exclusion and consequences Parallel lives; by choice or circumstance? Early warnings of Trojan Horse Trojan reports The myth of Ofsted neutrality Underachievement; a personal matter Importance of religion System failure Trojan and its aftermath Bibliography 3 A note on the research Insider-outsider role in research Me and my position Culturally competent research My research and its context School portraits Conducting the research Interviews Making sense of the data Appendix 1: Research timeline Appendix 2: Letters to research participants Appendix 3: Questionnaire Appendix 4: Interviewees Appendix 5: Interview schedules Bibliography 4 Meaning and importance of education for Pakistanis Migrants and education Importance of religion for Pakistanis The wider meaning of education for Pakistanis Pakistani respect for education Parents’ investment in education Role of the Pakistani family Deen and dunya: meaning of education Homework and study support Bibliography 5 The gaps in education The role of madrassahs Madrassah participation; the current picture in Birmingham Links between school and madrassahs Positive outcomes of madrassahs Problems with madrassahs The opportunity cost of madrassah participation Rummidge: case study of one school Improving madrassah provision Religious accommodation by schools Madrassah at school? Bibliography 6 A diverse teaching workforce Representative diversity The key role of minority teachers Government support for diversity in the teaching workforce National steps towards diversity in teaching Birmingham efforts to improve teacher diversity Teacher diversity: the views of Pakistani boys, their parents and teachers Pakistani boys and female teachers Pakistani boys’ role models Religious role models The current Pakistani representation in Birmingham schools Bibliography 7 Teacher understanding of Pakistani pupils Linking up the pupils’ worlds Teacher–pupil relationships Teacher understanding of pupil background Role of teacher training Teachers’ understanding of Pakistani pupils’ heritage; the current picture The role of the school as enabler Pakistani teachers as a resource Impact on pupils’ performance of teachers’ understanding Bibliography 8 A culturally responsive education for Pakistani students The focus of the research A responsive education service Multicultural education Culturally responsive pedagogy Community education Local curriculum More effective education of Pakistani boys Taking a strategic approach with the end in mind Improving madrassah education Incorporating madrassah education within the state system Reducing madrassah attendance Madrassah at school Teachers and their role Religiously inclusive curriculum practices Further role of the Pakistani parents and the Pakistani community Bibliography Index