New school set to open in September 2011
The I-Foundation, the educational charity behind the UK's first Hindu state school, has unveiled plans to open a second state primary school, this time in Leicester, home to the largest Hindu community in Europe outside London.
The proposal is one of just 16 approved today by the Department for Education as in the running to open in 2011, under the Coalition Government's flagship free schools policy. The Leicester Krishna-Avanti Primary School is to be located in Evington and will provide 420 places for children aged 4-11 years old.
A suitable site has been identified and an offer accepted for its purchase, which will allow the school to open to its first sixty pupils in just a year's time. The I-Foundation's Directors now have to submit a successful business plan to the DfE over the next month to win final approval as one of the first wave of parent-promoted schools introduced by the new Government.
The Leicester state primary school will draw heavily for its ethos, curriculum, teaching and leadership on the success of its sister school, the voluntary aided Krishna-Avanti Primary School (KAPS) in North West London, which opened in 2008 and moved into its own-award winning building last year.
KAPS has been recognised as having "many outstanding features" in its first Ofsted report conducted earlier this year. Ofsted says pupils' attainment is "above average" and their behaviour "first rate". It also praises their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development as "outstanding" concluding: "Their joy in coming to school is very evident" and the school's Hindu traditions "support fully the ethos of a 21st century British primary where academic excellence is as important as religious aura."
Building on the practice and approach of itssister school, Project Director for the Leicester school, Pradip Gajjar, expects rapidly to achieve the same high standards in the new school, and he is optimistic that the project will now advance in time for a 2011 opening. He says:
"There is huge demand for a state Hindu school locally, one which offers both outstanding academic opportunities, as well as providing a spiritual and moral framework which reflects Hindu values.
"The I-Foundation already has a proven track record of success and delivering on our promises, and we are expecting to be able to replicate our previous successes here.
"Discussions to date with the Government's agent for overseeing its programme for parent-promoted schools, Partnership for Schools, and its key advisers, the New Schools Network, give us real cause for optimism," he concluded.
Subject to final approval, the school will open one school year at a time, starting with reception classes for 4 and 5 year olds.
In keeping with the school's commitment to openness and inclusivity only half the places will be awarded on faith-based criteria with the other half going to local residents living near the school, regardless of religion or background.
To register your interest in the school visit www.krishna-avanti.org.uk
ENDS
For further information about this proposal please call Ben Rich on 07713 509134
Notes
The Leicester Hindu State Primary School is backed by the independent Hindu charity, the I-Foundation. The I-Foundation works with Government, local authorities, national and local community groups, and Hindu organisations in order to promote and represent Hindu interests in statutory education. It promoted and helped to fund UK's first, and so far, only Hindu state school, the Krishna-Avanti Primary School, in Edgware, North West London. It is currently working on plans for further primary and secondary schools across North London, East London and in Leicester.
Its aim is to help children realise their spiritual, moral and academic potential in a welcoming, secure and supportive environment centred on loving service to Lord Krishna. Its hope is to enable pupils to enjoy learning, develop character and competence, and prepare for the responsibilities of adult life in contemporary Britain regardless of their faith or non-faith backgrounds. It is a UK registered charity.
Background information about the UK's first Hindu Primary school is available at www.krishna-avanti.org.uk