Calls for government to ensure anonymity of ‘Trojan Horse’ whistleblowers

The government is being urged to ensure that the identities of whistleblowers involved in the ‘Trojan Horse’ scandal are not revealed.

People who gave evidence during the inquiry fear they will no longer remain anonymous after they received letters from lawyers acting for the Department for Education (DfE) that said their interview transcripts would be handed over to the lawyers of the teachers facing a disciplinary hearing.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has condemned the move and has managed to prevent the publication of the nine witnesses’ names by making legal representations to the DfE's lawyers.

The NAHT’s Rob Kelsall told the BBC: "Once disclosure of those names are made, there's no control or caveat over where that information goes after.”

Birmingham City Council has also expressed alarm at the decision to disclose the witness statements, with Brigid Jones, cabinet member for children, families and schools, warning it could have ‘potentially serious consequences’ not just for the witnesses involved, but for whistleblowers nationwide.