'A generation' of British schoolchildren are at risk of radicalisation by hardline Islamists, warns Education Secretary.

'A generation' of British schoolchildren are at risk of radicalisation by hardline Islamists, warns Education Secretary. (DM).

A generation of children are at risk from hardline Islamists trying to impose a radical agenda on state schools, the Education Secretary Nicky Morgan claimed today.

Mrs Morgan said the summer’s Trojan Horse scandal, which saw five schools in Birmingham placed in special measures after inspectors found evidence of attempts to impose an extreme agenda, was unlikely to be a one off.

She said: ‘It could be a nationwide issue.’ Mrs Morgan added: ‘If we dismiss this and try to say this is a one-off, I think we would be letting down a generation of children and families across the country.’

The Education Secretary said Britain must not be shy about promoting British values to stop others getting their own ideologies across. She said ideals such as democracy and tolerance must be ‘woven’ into the curriculum.

In her first appearance before the education select committee, Ms Morgan said a “cultural change” is needed and individuals who try to promote a particular view in schools need to be removed from the system. “There will be further attempts by those and others,” she acknowledged.

Ms Morgan told the cross-party group of MPs: “We must not be shy about talking about fundamental British values. If not, other people will attempt to get their ideologies across.”

Ms Morgan was giving evidence on extremism on schools the day after Ofsted published updates on five Birmingham schools declared failing in the wake of inspections as part of investigations into the alleged Trojan Horse takeover plot by hardline Muslims.

Five months after these schools were inspected, they have still not improved, the watchdog warned.

Asked whether there had been a hesitancy to act on warnings about the extremist threat because of cultural sensitivities,

Ms Morgan said there needed to be a ‘cultural change’ for officials to be more assertive on issues of faith and values. ‘It will absolutely require... there to be a cultural change, which is that we should not be shy about talking about our own values, we should not turn a blind eye when concerns are raised and we should know that there are people who don’t subscribe to our values and will attempt some sort of entryism – whether it’s in relation to a particular faith or any other extremist views.’ Hmmmm.....A case of too litle, too late. Read the full story here.