Easter eggs 'rebranded' at school linked to alleged Trojan Horse plot

Easter eggs were re-branded at a school linked to the alleged Trojan Horse plot to introduce a brand of hardline Islam into classrooms, an employment tribunal has heard.

The sweet treats were referred to instead as "chocolate eggs" removing anymention of the important Christian religious festival, according to a formerteaching assistant at Birmingham's Adderley Primary School.

Another ex-staff member also claimed lists of Muslim pupils, who make up the majority of the school's roll, were drawn up by teachers so they did not get sent to Easter basket-making sessions.

Hilary Owens, 46, who described herself as a practising Christian, said staffwere told: "We must not refer to them as Easter eggs."

Ms Owens, who is claiming unfair dismissal alongside three other Muslimteaching assistants by the school's governing board, said:

She and her ex-colleagues are alleging resignation letters they purportedly signed and sent to the headteacher Rizvana Darr at the end of 2012, wereforgeries.

Ms Owens, from Solihull, alongside Rehena Khanom, Yasmin Akhtar, Shahnaz Bibi all had formal grievances against the head at the time of the alleged forged resignation letters.

However, the school and its governors have claimed the resignation letters were part of efforts by the four to destabilise Adderley, as set out in the anonymous "Trojan Horse" letter which was leaked in late 2013 but is now widely regarded as a hoax.

Adderley school was mentioned in the four-page "Trojan Horse" letter, which detailed a supposed plot by hardline Muslims to take over several city schools, later triggering four official investigations.

The hearing continues.