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."
This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury (but not on its website):
Temple leaders yet to decide site of new Sikh free school
by Fiona Dryden, Education Correspondent
Sikh leaders in the city have yet to decide where their new free primary school will be.
The Department for Education announced this week that a bid by nine temple leaders in Leicester to create one of the government's new-style schools had been given the go-ahead.
Although it is expected to open in September 2014, a location for the school, to be known as Falcon's Primary, has yet to be confirmed.
The bid was the second to be made by the Sikh school steering group.
A previous application in July last yer was turned down by the Government because it was not deemed strong enough.
Indy Panesar, a spokesman for the group, said: "We're working closely with the department and the city council to find a suitable site."
He said the bid had been well researched and robustly presented to meet the criteria laid out by the department.
Mr Panesar said: "I'd like to praise the team of volunteers who have sacrificed substantial amounts of their precious spare time.
"Leicester's reputation as a beacon of multi-cultural living is well deserved and we trust this new multi-faith proposition will allow all prospective students to fulfil their potential.
"We aim not only for academic success, but also to equip youngsters with the life skills to cope in today's society."
Free schools are set up by charities, parents or teachers outside local authority control, but paid for by the state.
Although Falcon's primary will welcome children from all faiths, half of the places will be preserved for Sikhs and it will serve only vegetarian food.
Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for schools, said that it was "heartening" the group was committed to working in partnership with the council and schools across the city in the best interests of all children.
The school could help alleviate some of the shortfall in primary places in the city.
The city council has already pledged £15 million towrds creating extra classrooms at 17 primaries to help meet predicted demand.
The work will create 380 places in Leicester - needed because of a rising birth rate, arrivals to the city and because more residents are expected to choose local schools over those in the county as results ontinue to improve.
Government cash will help fund the cost of creating the new primary. It is not yet known how much this will be.
However, the Department for Education spent £4.5 million buying and developing the city's only other free school, Krishna Avanti, in Spencefield Lane, Evington, on behalf of the Krishna Avanti Trust. The trust contributed £200,000 of its own cash.
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.
