Just 4 parents forced head to resign over Muslim assemblies

Julia Robinson wanted to reintroduce integrated assemblies for her 240 junior school pupils, including 35 Muslims.

After pressure from a small number of parents, a previous head had agreed to separate assemblies for the school's Muslim children.

Mrs Robinson was appointed in spring 2007 and angered the tiny minority after signalling her intent that all children should mix freely at all times.

But such was the uproar caused by the four parents - who allegedly branded her a racist - that Mrs Robinson was forced to stay away from Meersbrook Bank primary school in Sheffield for a year from last February before finally quitting last week.

Chairwoman of the governors Sarah Browton backed Mrs Robinson's stance and also quit.

Education experts say separate assemblies are rare but they had been in place for ten years before Mrs Robinson arrived.

She said yesterday: "I understand the concerns of people on all sides of the debate around faith assemblies in schools and hope that this debate can be positive and constructive.

"My sincere wish is that children are given every opportunity to continue learning in an inclusive and welcoming environment." But a former governor, who asked not to be named as he has children at the school, attacked mismanagement by Sheffield City Council.

He said: "Mrs Robinson consulted widely and had the support of most of the governing body. But opposition did come from one group of parents.

"They were a minority but it was a difficult issue to deal with as people were frightened to be branded racist.

"There is no one less racist than Julia but she was branded as such and she received no support from the council."

He said he had resigned and added: "The opposition was initially small and it did have a legitimate view and was a significant voice.

"I am not sure to what extent it adequately represented the views of all the Muslim parents.

"It proved to be disruptive and we were told that if the head returned, the Muslim children would not respect her."

Sonia Sharp, Sheffield's executive director of children's services, said: "It was not that she felt the separate meetings were a bad thing - but she wanted more community spirit and felt that the work going on in the gatherings could be brought into a wider arena. There was a difference of opinion and in the process, relationships broke down."

Mrs Robinson's replacement Pamela Smith said there was now a "daily act of worship in keeping with legal requirements".

Council leader Paul Scriven said: "The school acted with the best interests of all its pupils in mind but it is clear that this has caused misunderstanding and anxiety for some parents."