LEICESTER'S HINDU SCHOOL IS A BEACON, SAYS EDUCATION SECRETARY MICHAEL GOVE

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Leicester's Hindu school is a beacon, says Education Secretary Michael Gove 

By Joseph Watts, Parliamentary Correspondent 

Education Secretary Michael Gove praised a state-funded Hindu school as "a beacon" today, commending its founders' goal of helping children become "model British citizens". 

Mr Gove said the opening of Krishna Avanti School, in Evington, Leicester, demonstrated the extent to which Hindus had integrated into British society. 

He said: "I see Krishna Avanti School as a beacon and everything that I've heard about it makes me think that it's a fantastic option. 

"I know that there have been people who have been working with the school from north London who are Christian, Jewish and Hindu and I think that reflects the fact that British Hindus are an immensely well-integrated section of our society and are making fantastic accomplishments. 

"As well as recognising what is special and distinctive and cherishable about British Indian culture, it's also the case that the people behind this school want to make sure the children grow up as model British citizens." 

The school, which aims to have an eventual capacity of 420 pupils, opened on Thursday. 

Children of all faiths can attend the school, which currently has one Sikh and one Muslim pupil, though its first intake is predominantly Hindu. 

Head teacher Christopher Spall is a Christian. 

Pradip Gajjar, chairman of governors said: "I think Mr Gove captures our ethos very well. 

"Our whole objective is to use the backdrop of the national curriculum to provide educational excellence through academic achievement. 

"But we also want to focus on the character of the children and their spiritual experience." 

Free schools were introduced by the Government. They are state funded but outside local authority control. 

Any educational, community, faith or charity group can apply for funding to set up a school. Krishna Avanti was among the first 24 to open in the UK this month. 

Opponents have argued that by promoting faith schools the Government could encourage segregation or allow extremism to take root.

Mr Gove said: "We have been clear that faith schools must have admissions rules which mean they can only select 50 per cent of their students on the basis of their faith. 

"Secondly, we've been very clear that any extremist or fundamentalist organisation should not be allowed to open a school. 

"Thirdly, faith schools run by mainstream representatives of mainstream faiths are a force for good. 

"Church of England, Roman Catholic and Jewish schools have been part of the educational fabric for 100 years and they are hugely popular. 

"I don't see any reason why you can't have Sikh, Hindu and Muslim schools that are also exemplary. 

"If any school is proposed by anyone with a separatist agenda or taken over by anyone that's got a separatist agenda, we'll come down on them like a ton of bricks."