Suleyman Folami, 59, and Mujanet Daniah, 41, denied the charge, but on 4 March 2020 were found guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court and will be sentenced on 25 March.

The trust responsible for running the registered independent school, Advance Education Centre, was also found guilty and will be sentenced on 25 March.

Former chairman of the trust, Mohammad Dauhoo, 41, was found guilty of neglecting his duties as chairman of the trust and was ordered to pay £1325.

While delivering her verdict, chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot described the case as the most serious example of an offence of this kind she had presided over.

The court heard that Ofsted’s unregistered schools taskforce inspected the Brent site three times; in 2018 and in March 2019.

Inspectors found that the ground floor of the building on Abbey Road was being used as a registered school, but the floor above had been set aside to teach children of secondary school age.

Inspectors found as many as 66 children being taught on the upper floor and evidence that many were attending for at least 25 hours a week. Student workbooks and teacher plans showed it set homework, issued detentions and was operating as a full-time school.

When five or more children attend a setting for all or substantially all of their education then it must be registered with the Department for Education.

Mr Folami and Ms Daniah claimed what they were offering was a supplementary school. Following the first visit they told Ofsted they had changed their timetable to reduce the number of hours children were receiving tuition. However, inspections in March showed no change in the school’s operating model.

Board minutes from a meeting held just days after the first inspection showed Mr Dauhoo was present when the trust discussed Ofsted’s concerns about the ‘supplementary school’.

Under examination Mr Dauhoo also admitted that it was his responsibility, as chairman at the time, to oversee both the primary school and ‘supplementary school’.

A registration application was submitted for the supplementary site in April 2019 but the corresponding pre-registration inspection raised concerns about the suitability of the site and the application was rejected.

This is the fourth set of convictions for running an unregistered school.

The first ever trial of its kind took place at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in October 2018 in relation to an illegal school in west London.

In September 2019 a second set of convictions were secured against two people running an illegal school in south London and the following month three people pleaded guilty to running unregistered school Freiston Hall.

HMCI Amanda Spielman added:

This was an illegal school. The people in charge of running it successfully registered their legal school and were fully aware of the correct procedure, but despite repeated inspections chose to flout the law.

Unregistered schools by their very nature put children’s well-being at risk. We will continue to expose these places and make sure they register and operate legally or cease operating. This case has again shown that a legal definition of what constitutes full-time education is needed.

As we have said several times over the last few years, the government needs to tighten the legal definition of a school and I am pleased that they are consulting on this.

Notes to editors:

Under section 96 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 a person who conducts an unregistered independent school in England is guilty of a criminal offence.

The offence is a summary offence and carries a maximum penalty of 6 months’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both.

Between 1 January 2016 and 31 August 2019, Ofsted investigated more than 600 suspected unregistered schools: 290 settings have been inspected and 83 have been issued with warning notices. As a result 50 have changed the way they operate in order to comply with the law, and 10 have registered as independent schools.

Growth in British food and drink exports driven by demand to non- EU markets such as the USA and Japan confirm 2019 as a major year for the industry, according to latest HMRC figures.

Statistics reported by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, (HMRC), show the UK exported nearly £24 billion worth of high-quality food and drink, up by 4.9% on the previous year and up by over 18% since 2016.

The USA was the UK’s second biggest export market for food and drink last year, worth £2.4 billion and up by 8.0% in 2019.

Demand from Japan is also on the rise, with UK food and drink exports growing 14.1% to £311.5 million.

This year we will negotiate new free trade agreements (FTAs) across the globe, including with the USA to help UK businesses to trade with and invest in expanding markets.

Fewer barriers to trade and a buoyant economy translate to real opportunities for business, increased investment into the UK, more jobs, more choice and lower prices for UK consumers.

In Japan, the home of sushi and sashimi, a growing appetite for British produce saw annual UK seafood exports rise to £16.6 million, up 65.4% on 2018. British salmon also did well in Japan, exports more than doubled and totalled £13.3 million last year.

One business already taking advantage of growing demand in Japan is The Scottish Salmon Company. The Edinburgh based firm has recently secured a deal to supply Japanese sushi chain ‘Genki Sushi’ with their quality brand Tartan Salmon.

During Prime Minister Abe’s visit to the UK in January 2019, the ban on Japanese imports of British lamb and beef was lifted. Since then, latest figures show that during 2019 exports of British meat to Japan increased by nearly 200% and reached nearly £9 million.

As part of the UK government’s ongoing Food is GREAT campaign government and British industry are aiming to boost UK trade in food and drink exports and will continue to work with exporters to help them break into new markets.

Secretary of State for International Trade, Liz Truss said:

“These latest figures show the ever-increasing demand across the globe for high quality British food and drink.

“Our food and drink industry will play a crucial role as we look to deepen trade and investment relationships with like-minded partners, such as the US and Japan.

“Our new free trade agreements seek to secure benefits for every region and nation of the UK, for small businesses and entrepreneurs and for every industry.”

Ian Wright CBE, FDF Chief Executive and Co-Chair of the FDSC said:

“Food and drink is the UK’s largest manufacturing industry. We have a global reputation for producing innovative, high quality products.

“Oceans of untapped export potential still remain. We are working closely with Government to unlock these opportunities and future trade deals will play a big part in ensuring food and drink remains a national success story.”

Thank you, Mr President, and let me say how good it is to see you in the chair in what I think is your last month with us in this council, so it’s very nice to see you there. Let me also thank Special Representative Shearer for your briefing and all you’ve done. And I’d also like to thank Ms Sunday for your very insightful briefing and your continued efforts to seek justice and accountability for the women of South Sudan. It was an inspirational part, Ms Sunday of our recent visit to Juba to meet you and your fellow civil society activists. And I am pleased to hear from you that this council’s interest then has helped you locally to open that space.

Mr President, let me start with, like others, welcoming the very positive news: the decision of the South Sudanese parties to form the Transitional Government of National Unity. The people of South Sudan have long awaited this important step and the people of the United Kingdom join them in celebrating this important progress. And let me therefore salute the leadership shown by President Kiir and First Vice President Machar in making the necessary compromises, including on the number and composition of states in particular. Putting the people of South Sudan first is what matters and is their test of leadership.

Let me also praise the role of the region in their efforts to bring the parties together. I agree wholeheartedly with the SRSG on the important unity shown an effort shown by the subregion and beyond. Thanks are due widely, as he said, reflecting the wide concern and interest of the international community. You left out one person, David. So thank you to you for all that you’ve done.

But let me also echo SRSG Shearer’s sense of caution. It’s really important that the dividends of this progress are felt by the wider population. That hasn’t yet happened. Our focus remains on helping the people of South Sudan to lead their lives free from hunger, violence and fear. Only through genuine implementation of commitments made by all sides will South Sudan move forwards.

And let’s not forget, Mr President, this conflict has killed nearly 400,000 people, has left 7.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, has seen sexual and gender based violence used as a weapon of war, has seen over 4 million people displaced and some 6.5 million people at risk of acute food insecurity. The United Kingdom will continue to stand by South Sudan and its people in this endeavour. We remain one of the largest humanitarian donors. Last year, the United Kingdom gave over $220 million in humanitarian assistance to South Sudan.

Now, Mr President, as I’ve said, recent steps are only the start of the next phase of delivering change for the people of South Sudan. Our hope is that the spirit of compromise continues and that the swift progress to address the many challenges ahead. Most immediately, we need to see the timely formation of an inclusive government with positions and portfolios allocated. One very concrete step that could be taken would be to ensure the meaningful participation of women, – as Ms Sunday made clear – both in this government and in South Sudan’s future. And on that, I would simply say that the 35 percent quota should be the floor, not the ceiling. I welcomed Ms Sunday’s comments in general, and I particularly agree with her that South Sudan’s natural resource wealth should be used in support of its people including, as a priority, girls’ education.

Mr President, those tasks which should have been completed during the pre-transition phase must now be addressed. This includes on unifying forces and cantonment. Partial implementation would bring new security challenges, which must not happen. And we would like to see full transparency on this, including on funds already disbursed. Efforts to address growing levels of inter-communal violence and immediate steps to tackle the humanitarian situation would show this government prioritising its people.

This council must remain alive to the risks. History has shown that the violence in South Sudan can escalate quickly. So in addition to that sustained commitment from the new government, we believe the international efforts that we’ve seen pay such benefits and dividends recently must remain there with South Sudan to provide a conducive environment for sustainable peace. And as part of that, we believe it’s important to maintain the sanctions regime, to discourage any potential spoilers of the peace and to keep the arms embargo which exists for the protection of the people of South Sudan. Of course, necessary exemptions must be taken through in the correct way.

Mr President, the Security Council has walked with South Sudan over the past years and months. It’s been a very difficult time. But the strong interest and focus, including our recent visit, have been important elements in support of peace. And we need as a council to maintain that interest and our focus. On that Security Council visit, I recall vividly the words of one of our civil society reps that we met about South Sudan’s parties. And they said, “When they are united, they let us talk. When they’re divided, they kill us.” It’s better that they are united.

Mr President, the people of South Sudan deserve a world in which they’re not in danger, in which they’re able to fulfill their potential and live their lives to the fullest. As we say for all on this planet, let no one be left behind. The President and Vice President have shown leadership to get to this point. True leadership means being able to make compromises for the good of their people, and I applaud them for it. But this is just the beginning. We need true leadership from them and all South Sudanese politicians now.

The hard work, Mr President is just starting.

Thank you.

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Jim Harra, Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary of HM Revenue and Customs, has written to Sir Edward Davey MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the loan charge, in response to its letter that claims that HMRC misled people with its recent press release on loan charge fraud arrests.