TEACHERS UNION FEARS MOVE WILL DEPRIVE OTHERS OF FUNDING

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury (but not on its website):

Teachers union fears move will deprive others of funding

by Fiona Dryden, Education Correspondent

News of the new Sikh free school has not been welcomed by union leaders at Leicester's branch of the National Union of Teachers (NUT).

Ian Leaver, assistant secretary for Leicester's NUT, said the cash for the school would divert funding away from others in the city and "undermine the local admissions process".

Indy Panesar, spokesman for the Sikh school steering group said: "We value the input from the NUT. However, we are working in partnership with the council.

"This school is about complementing and enhancing existing provision and we are looking forward to becoming a valuable member of the Leicester family of schools."