Five trustees of the Essex Islamic Academy in Barking have been disqualified from holding similar roles after a Charity Commission investigation found they failed to safeguard pupils from radicalisation attempts by a teacher.
The inquiry was launched after Umar Ahmed Haque, who worked at the academy, was convicted of terrorism offences last year. Haque, initially hired as an administrative assistant, later taught classes unsupervised to 80-100 children, showing them violent Islamic State group propaganda.
The commission found that trustees did not check Haque's teaching materials or obtain an enhanced DBS check required for his role. They also withheld information that Abuthaher Mamun, who assisted Haque and was later convicted of terror offences, had worked at the charity.
Michelle Russell, director of investigations, stated that children at the academy were let down by the trustees, who have been banned from trusteeships for 10 years. A new board has been appointed after an interim manager was installed in June 2018.
