SIKH SCHOOL PROPOSAL APPROVED

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Sikh school proposal approved

A second bid to create a Sikh free school in Leicester has been successful.

The Department for Education announced yesterday that proposals by nine temple leaders had been accepted.

The school, which is expected to open in September 2014 on an undisclosed site, will be called Falcon's Primary.

Although it will welcome children from all faiths, half of the places will be reserved for Sikhs. It will serve only vegetarian food.

The application was the second put in by the Sikh school steering group.

The first was turned down in July by the Government because it was not deemed strong enough.

Harminder Jagdev, project leader for the steering group, was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for schools, said: "The group has worked incredibly hard to reach this position and we look forward to working with it as its plans progress.

"It's particularly heartening that it is committed to working in partnership with the council and schools across the city in the best interests of all of our children."

Free schools are set up by charities, parents or teachers outside local authority control, but paid for by the state.

They do not have to follow the national curriculum, but must provide a broad and balanced education.