NON-Muslim children will be taught Arabic and study the Koran under plans for a new faith school.




A charity is bidding to run the first Islamic faith primary in Britain for youngsters who are not followers of the religion.



The Al Habib Islamic Education and Cultural Centre says 50% of places at the school, which serves a mainly non-Muslim area, will be for local pupils.



It has submitted plans for the £7million, 420-pupil school in Swindon, Wilts.



The charity claims there is demand for the school from the Muslim community and non-Muslim families in the catchment area.



If it goes ahead, an hour of the timetable each day would be dedicated to studying Arabic and the Koran.



Non-Muslims can sit out the lessons but it is hoped most will choose to stay in class to gain more insight into Islam, an Al Habib spokesman said. He added: “The school will follow the National Curriculum and have teachers from different faiths.



“We will be there to provide guidance in religious teaching.”



Keith Porteous Wood, director of the National Secular Society, said the school would be a “disaster” for the community.



He said: “I have great sympathy for local parents.



“A lot of them would not want a Christian school and far less a Muslim one.”

Pathetic. I had no interest in my own religion in school, so i sure as hell wouldnt bother with anyone elses. May seem a narrow minded poit of view, but I find that Religion is the cause of all war.

No religion? No war.

No "that" religion about it Craig, Religion in general is the cause of all war.

Personally, I think other religions should be discussed more in schools, there isnt just Christians in this world, and there also isnt just CoE and RC Chrstians.

I didnt mean "That" religion in that way... Misinterpretation my dear boy.


The RE studies we had at Wirral Grammar were very extensive, we learnt about 10 + different religions. But everyone took it as a joke... about 2% of the school took it seriously.

Lol, personally, I don't think any state-funded school should follow a particular religion. Schools that are aided etc, fair enough, but why should a school are solely funded by taxpayers money and be in a certain catchment area, be biased towards one faith?

In Birkenhead School, we barely talked about anything that was'nt Christian/CoE.

In Wallasey School, we delved a bit deeper into other religions, but nothing that would help pupils to understand them. I would have loved to have been taught about other religions, instead of the rambling on about Christianity, which is preached to you from day one, the same old stories every week!!

And they NEVER take into account any of the writings from the lost gospels...

I think i have learnt more from the internet, books and living in a muslim country about other religions than anything i could of learnt in school (even if i'd listened). All schools teach you is how to pass an exam paper at the end of it all but then thats another debate altogether.

By the way i am non religious but that doesn't mean subject does not interest me.

i agree with matty, what we dont understand we tend to fear and hate, if we are educated at a younger age about other ways, purhaps we wont be so "negative" towards muslim ways etc etc and other religions.

That's a sweeping statement - or should I say opinion?

What about land, money, racial equality?

I dont think schools should teach one religion, I think they should teach a little of them all.

Not reading chapters from bibles each week (like they did in my school)but actually teach them traditions and laws that they live by. I was bored Reading out the history on mathew luke and whatever there bloody names were every lesson. The only fun time i remember in RE was dressing up and Orange and sticking a candle in it,only to watch it go moldy and green in the cabinet next week lol.

I will admit Harvest festival was fun cos of that big fancy loaf of bread that they would let us eat

So if other religions had similar traditions (involving food ) I would of been interested.

Its got nothing to do with schools how religious you become, its down to parents. Parents are the ones that get to you first, they are the ones who shape your life whatever religion you are. Schools can teach as many religions as they like, but the one your more likly to follow will be your parents religion. Not many people change in later life when their old enough to make their own mind up. Don't forget the reason your sent to a certain school is because it follows your parents religion.

When I was at school we got a bit of everything. I was happy to learn about the pillars of Islam, the Sikh faith, Hinduism. In fact I wish I had learnt more as we seemed to just skim the surface. Maybe having a little knowledge does actually give understanding and maybe a little more tolerance. And in the opposite way - the less you know the less you can trust what people are up to. Hey - there's another cause of war - ignorance!

We lived in Leicester for 9 years and it was a real eye-opener. There were Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Jews, as well the plethora of Christian denominations.

I liked Diwali - as Wheels says - if it involves nice food its a bonus

i had a teacher SCREAM at me in school once saying Religion does not cause war, the people do...

My answer? The people are following the 'rules' set in Religious Scrolls and Books, so the Religion is the root of the problem, the people are too easilly influenced and don't think before they act.

Of couse, i didn't say that incase she flipped on me, but i do think that's the cause of it. But i've met some nice people, Christians and Muslims and they have been fine.

But about Religion in schools? I don't think it should be taught. If people WANT to learn about religion, they should do it in their own time.