Ofsted chief's warning over religion being used to 'pervert' education

“Under the pretext of religious belief, they use education institutions, legal and illegal, to narrow young people’s horizons, to isolate and segregate, and in the worst cases to indoctrinate impressionable minds with extremist ideology.”

She is also expected to tell schools they have a responsibility to “tackle those who actively undermine fundamental British values or equalities law”.

“Uncomfortable decisions” need to be made in the interests of pupils and not in the interest of the most conservative sections of a religious community.

“Similarly schools must not allow pressure from certain elements of school communities to dictate school policy, nor should we allow vocal parental minorities to pressure other parents and children to act or dress against their wishes. Giving way to the loudest voices is the opposite of tolerance,” she will say.

In November Jewish educational organisations voiced concern over Ofsted’s intention to ask Muslim girls in primary schools why they were wearing hijabs.

Rabbi David Meyer, executive director of Partnerships for Jewish Schools, described the move as “very troubling”.

The Board of Deputies said it would seek clarification from the education authorities on how Ofsted proposed to carry out its inquiries.

Many Strictly Orthodox schools have been criticised by Ofsted over their teaching of "British values".