Parents spend tens of thousands of dollars each year to send their children to the prestigious American School in London. However, the institution teaches youngsters that there are “sixty-four genders,” among other things, which distinguishes it from public schools. However, Ofsted issued a report on the American School in London noting that while the school is sticking to its “woke agenda,” it “requires improvement” if it wants to be a world-class institution.
After the school’s curriculum increased emphasis on teaching students about “social justice” rather than teaching them subject-specific knowledge and skills, several “failures” in leadership and education were discovered by Ofsted, which downgraded it from “outstanding” to “requires improvement.”
Despite the school’s fall from criticism from the country’s main education watchdog organization, the current interim head of the American School in London, Sacha McVean (pictured), wrote a note to parents defending the school’s commitment to social justice programs and describing the watchdog’s evaluation of it as “unusual.”
After the watchdog criticized the school for teaching human-centered subjects rather than subject-based work, more than one hundred parents collaborated to submit Ms. McVean a harsh letter of complaint about the curriculum.
Some pupils have allegedly claimed that they were worried their ideas were being “suppressed” by the school’s woke agenda, according to Ofsted.
The school was judged by Ofsted to fall short of the Independent School Standards because it fails to make an effort to reduce the “promotion of partisan political views” or urge pupils to practice “respect for those with other beliefs.”
One parent said to Times: “The tone of the school’s email was not well received at all. It came across as defiant and unapologetic. Parents were shocked to see that the school was standing by its programs.”
One contentious issue was the rights of transgender individuals. Teachers have been instructing pupils that transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard should be permitted to participate in women’s competitions. In health class, children are told there are 64 genders during the school day.
One parent stated: “We have seen controversial views — about which public debate is still raging in society — being taught as truth to these children.”
Ofsted’s report stated: “Teaching places much more weight on the school’s approach to social justice than on learning subject-specific knowledge and skills… Not everyone felt that they are able to express their views freely in class.”
The parents’ complaint about the school’s curriculum has yet to be addressed by the American School in London. Despite the anger from paying customers, it appears that the institution will not alter its curriculum anytime soon.
The report wrapped: “While recognizing the importance of promoting equalities, a significant minority of parents and pupils told inspectors that a culture has developed where alternative opinions are not felt welcome.”
Do you think that private schools should be able to teach whatever they want? Do you believe in the value of this type of curriculum for children?
