LEICESTER "FREE SCHOOL" PRAISED

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Head Sally Hughes with, from left, Diya Mistry, Myleen Mander, Neha Kancherla, Malwina Fudala & Abhay Keshwala 

Leicester "free school" praised

by Fiona Dryden, Education Correspondent

The first of the Government's "free" schools to open in the city has been given a good Ofsted report.

The visit was the first by inspectors from the education watchdog to Krishna Avanti Primary, in Evington, which opened two years ago.

Inspectors said pupils made good progress from their starting points, teaching was good and Krishna Avanti had a warm and caring environment which made good provision to support pupils' strong spiritual development.

Interim head teacher Sally Hughes, who took over from outgoing principal Christopher Spall when he left just before Easter, said: "It's fantastic news. The inspection was rigorous, but the outcome was just as we expected, showing that we know exactly what level we're operating at and what we need to do to become outstanding. It's well within reach."

Free schools can be started by charities, parents or teachers. They are outside local authority control, but are paid for by the state.

The report said pupils' behaviour was outstanding and they were "highly motivated learners who were kind, considerate, and caring" towards one another.

They said that staff used innovative IT to bring learning to life and this supported children well.

In addition, they praised the quality of teaching in the Early Years Foundation stage for being "outstanding".

They said that classrooms and their displays were vibrant and learning was "well-organised".

Mrs Hughes was also praised for settling in so quickly and rapidly winning the confidence of parents and staff.

They said she had an "accurate overview" of the school's performance.

She said: "The report is a true reflection of what we're doing here and highlights many of our strengths.

"I think the school's ethos of tolerance and respect shone through during the inspection. It's evident in our pupils' eagerness to learn and enthusiasm to be here.

"We have some outstanding teachers and have employed two more, along with four extra teaching assistants who start in September to accommodate our growing numbers."

The school will have 165 pupils in the new academic year and will be at planned capacity.

Mrs Hughes said: "We're a school that embraces all cultures and that was highlighted in the report through our pupils' spiritual, moral, and cultural development."

Pradip Gajjar, chair of governors, said: "We've done exceptionally well in our first report and we know what we need to do to be even better. The school is oversubscribed for September and that speaks volumes for the confidence of parents in what we're doing.

"We feel very proud of what's already been achieved."

To improve even further, inspectors said that teachers should be more confident to adapt activities.

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."

TEMPLE LEADERS YET TO DECIDE SITE OF NEW SIKH FREE SCHOOL

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.

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.

EDUCATION SECRETARY TO VISIT LEICESTER'S FIRST FREE SCHOOL

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Education Secretary to visit Leicester's first free school

Education Secretary Michael Gove was due to officially open Leicester's first free school today.

Mr Gove pioneered the free school concept and will visit Krishna Avanti, in Spencefield Lane, Evington, to unveil a plaque at the site.

The Hindu free school, which was set up by the Avanti School's Trust in September 2011, takes pupils from all faiths but has a Hindu ethos.

Some £4.5 million was granted by the Department for Education to the trust to buy and develop the school in the grade II-listed building, formerly occupied by Leicester Grammar Juniors.

A contribution of £200,000 was also made by the trust.

Mr Gove said: "Free schools such as Krishna Avanti are helping to raise standards across the country.

"Krishna Avanti provides an inclusive education with a special Hindu ethos that is rightly popular with parents and I'm delighted to have this opportunity to meet the staff and children."

Krishna Avanti was created under the Government's new education agenda where parents, charitable groups and others can bid to set up a school, providing they demonstrate the ability to do so.

Although free schools don't have to follow the national curriculum, Krishna Avanti does.

It is funded via the local education authority in the same way as most schools, but money goes directly to the school and no cash is retained by the city council for central services.

Three free schools in London are also run by the trust.

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz will also be at the site for its official opening.

John Simpson, chairman of the trust, said: "We're pleased Michael Gove and Keith Vaz have accepted to formally open Krishna Avanti.

The trust now has four schools in its family, each of which are committed to providing a distinctive high quality education."

Mr Vaz said: "I'm delighted that despite his busy schedule, Mr Gove is coming here. I want to pay tribute to Krishna Avanti, who worked long and hard to acquire this school, and for the land to remain as an education site. This is a symbol of what makes Leicester so special."

Finishing touches to the school were made at the end of last year. It now has two new classroom blocks added to the building and a worship hall which doubles up as a dining area.

A large plaza has also been created. The grade II-listed building has been repainted throughout and new carpets added.

FREE SCHOOL PLAN BY SIKHS IS ANOTHER STEP NEARER REALITY

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Free school plan by Sikhs is another step nearer reality

Proposals by Sikh leaders to set up a free school have moved a step closer.

The Department for Education has given them approval to progress to the next and final stage following the submission of their business case.

They join another successful bid in the city from a group which is hoping to set up a post-16 school for sporting excellence with support from Leicester Tigers.

Free schools are part of the Government's flagship policy which allows parents, charities and faith groups, among others, to set them up.

They are funded directly by the Government and do not have to follow the national curriculum, but must provide a broad and balanced education.

Indy Panesar, the president of Ramgarhia Sikh Temple, in Meynell Road, off Uppingham Road, Leicester, is one of the nine temple leaders behind the bid.

He said: "This is very positive news and we're cautiously confident."However, we still have a big hurdle to cross."

Sikh leaders now have to attend an interview with free school experts from the Government to discuss their plans.

This is scheduled for May 17, but a final decision is not expected until the summer.

A number of locations are being considered as a potential site for the school, which would take pupils from four to 11 years and be known as Leicester Sikh School.

Among them is Ellesmere College in Braunstone, which is relocating to the former Riverside Community College site in Rowley Fields. Mr Panesar said: "We are still considering sites and no firm decisions have been taken if we are given the go-ahead.

The school's ethos would be based on the Sikh faith, but must offer half of the places to non-Sikh children.

It would serve only vegetarian food and take a reception and year one class with 30 children in each, during its first year, with numbers growing thereafter.

If plans are allowed to progress it should be open in time for September 2013.

Initial set-up costs for the school are paid for by the Government.

Councillor Vi Dempster, the city council spokeswoman for children, young people and schools, said: "I met with Sikh community leaders and I'm pleased to hear they have got through to the next stage.

"They have given their commitment to work with the local authority as part of its family of schools if they're successful.

"Given the rise in the primary school population, this won't affect the stability of any schools in the city."

Free schools were created by the Government to give parents more choice.

SIKH COMMUNITY PLANS FREE SCHOOL

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Sikh community plans free school

Sikh leaders plan to set up a free school in the city.

They have applied to the Government for permission to create a free school and are in talks with the local authority over where it could be located.

Free schools are part of the Government's flagship new policies which allow parents, charities and faith groups, among others, to set them up.

They are funded directly by the Government and do not have to follow the national curriculum, but must provide a broad and balanced education.

Indy Panesar is president of Ramgarhia Sikh Temple in Maynell Road, off Uppingham Road, Leicester, and is one of the nine temple leaders in Leicester behind the application.

He said: "A lot of parents have approached us about setting up a school and after consulting with them and seeing that there's a demand, we have put together a business case for the Government to look at.

"There is a huge Sikh community in Leicester and parents would like the option of sending their child to a school which has a background in the faith so after considering it for some time we have decided to go ahead with this application.

"As such the school will be vegetarian and if we get the go-ahead it's hoped we can have it up and running by September 2013.

"Although the school's ethos will be from the Sikh faith, it will teach the national curriculum with 50 per cent of pupils coming from all backgrounds and religions."

A number of potential locations are currently under consideration, among them Ellesmere College in Braunstone.

The college is relocating to the former Riverside Community College site in Rowley Fields. The new Sikh school would be known as Leicester Sikh School.

Mr Panesar said: "It will be for children aged four to 11 with a reception class and year one class of 30 children in each during its first year with numbers growing thereafter.

"We're keen to work with the local authority to become one of the city's family of schools."

Initial set up costs for the school are paid for by the Government. Councillor Vi Dempster, Leicester City Council's spokeswoman for children, young people and schools, said: "We're always keen to work with partners to help ensure our school provision meets the needs of our communities."

Free schools were created by the Government to give parents more choice about the types of schools they send their children to.

STATE-FUNDED HINDU SCHOOL IN EVINGTON HAS OPEN DAY

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

State-funded Hindu school in Evington has open day

A new school, set to open in September, is already proving popular.The Krishna-Avanti Primary School in Evington will be only the second state-funded Hindu school in the UK when it opens later this year.

It is one of the coalition Government's new "free" schools – set up by charities, parents or teachers outside local authority control but paid for by the state.

The I-Foundation, an education charity, is behind the new primary school and yesterday an open day was held to allow parents of prospective pupils to look at the school.

A school spokesman said the high attendance yesterday had suggested the school would be popular.

He said: "We had 60 to 70 people coming through in the first 45 minutes alone and about 30 to 40 of them told me they had applied to the school."

Prospective parents were given a tour of the school and also heard from Naina Parmar, the headteacher of the state-funded Krishna-Avanti school in Harrow. Both schools are advised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Vishal Brahmbhatt, 30, from Belgrave, has applied for his three-year-old son Pritam to go to the school.

He said: "It's very exciting because it's the first Hindu school where children can stay in touch with their culture."

Jessica Desai, 29, from Humberstone, who visited with 15-month-old daughter, Danisha, said: "I've heard good things about the school in Harrow and I know it's very popular."

The I-Foundation has said its first intake will be 60 reception-age pupils but that it aimed to provide 420 places for children aged four to 11 by 2018.

Half of the new intake will be Hindu and the other half children who live nearest the Spencefield Lane site.

Children will follow the national curriculum but their day will include daily Hindu prayers among other things.