An Islamic boarding school is being investigated after the headteacher and his son were arrested following reports of a firearm being brandished.

The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Darul Uloom School, in south-east London, over concerns about potential misconduct and mismanagement at its charity. 

Armed police went to the school on 30 May following reports of a man believed to be seen with a suspected firearm. 

A teacher, Yusef Musa, who worked as the school’s safeguarding lead, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

He is due to appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

His father, who was the school’s headteacher, was also arrested. He has since been released under investigation. 

On 13 June, the secretary of state applied to Westminster Magistrates’ Court for an order that the school be removed from the register of independent schools, meaning it would no longer be able to operate.

A hearing took place on 15 June and was adjourned until 22 June, when a settlement between the Department for Education and the charity was reached.

Headteacher and teacher removed

As a result of that settlement, the headteacher and teacher have been removed.

A new trustee will be appointed as the school’s safeguarding lead, and will have to be approved by the DfE, in consultation with Bromley Council.

The scope of the Charity Commission’s inquiry will include:

• The management and oversight of the charity by the trustees - including the financial management of the charity and whether conflicts of interest are being properly identified and managed by the trustees
• The conduct of the arrested individuals
   

The commission continues to work with the Metropolitan Police, the DfE and Bromley Council.

After the commission’s inquiry, it will publish a report detailing what issues the inquiry looked at, what actions were undertaken as part of the inquiry and what the outcomes were.