The British government has vowed to step up its crackdown on “illegal schools” that fail to teach “British values” and basic skills and risk leaving many youngsters “segregated” from mainstream society. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi confirmed that the government will introduce new legislation and grant “stronger powers” to the schools watchdog Ofsted to tackle illegal unregistered schools and prevent vulnerable children from “falling through the cracks.” Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector, told The Sunday Times that such a crackdown is necessary because these illegal schools fail to equip children with “British values,” basic numeracy and literacy skills, and leave many youngsters “very segregated” from mainstream society. She said extremist materials have been found in some of these schools, “exposing children to messages that are just contrary to British values.” In one school that was successfully prosecuted, books were found by an author banned from entering the UK for his extremist …