'Trojan Horse': Golden Hillock School joins Ark network

Golden Hillock has previously been rated inadequate in all categories

A school at the centre of the so-called "Trojan Horse" affair is to join a different group of academies.

Golden Hillock School will join the Ark network in September, following a resolution by current management at Park View Educational Trust.

As a result of allegations about a hard-line Islamist takeover, five Birmingham schools including Golden Hillock were put into special measures.

Park View said Ark would "bring many positive benefits" to the school.

Golden Hillock has previously been rated inadequate in all categories with Ofsted finding split leadership and reports of staff intimidation.

But in December the watchdog said the school was "making reasonable progress".

'Significant step'

The anonymous "Trojan Horse" letter which was sent to Birmingham City Council claimed a socially-conservative group of Muslims was trying to get their own members on to governing bodies and oust head teachers.

As a result of the allegations, 21 schools in Birmingham were investigated.

Oldknow Academy in Small Heath, which was one of those placed into special measures, recently announced it would also be joining Ark in September, the academies group said.

Park View Educational Trust executive principal Adrian Packer said every decision it makes was "in the best interests" of students and Ark "has a very strong track record".

A Department for Education spokesman said the Park View trust's decision "to vote for Ark to sponsor Golden Hillock is a significant step in ensuring that its pupils get the best possible chance to fulfil their potential".

The spokesman said the current four Ark schools in Birmingham had all "seen improvement in results since becoming academies".