The Education Secretary pulled the plug on the Muslim-inspired Northern Lights primary school in Halifax, Yorkshire, following a three-month investigation.
Source/Credit: Daily Mail | UK
By Jonathan Petre | July 13, 2013
A flagship free school has been blocked by Michael Gove following claims that it is linked to Islamic extremism.
The Education Secretary pulled the plug on the Muslim-inspired Northern Lights primary school in Halifax, Yorkshire, following a three-month investigation.
Ministers ordered the inquiry after complaints that a local Islamic centre had circulated a leaflet suggesting that Muslim parents who failed to support the free school would be condemned.
The leaflet said: ‘If it was said to us, “If you do not attend this meeting your child will die,” I am certain we would all make sure we attend the meeting.
‘What I am about to address... is even more serious than death and that is for us and our children to be safe on the Day of Judgment.’
Free schools are state-funded but operate independently of town halls and Northern Lights, which was to be run with a Muslim ethos, was due to open in September.
However, despite its denials that it endorsed the leaflet or extremist views, Ministers voiced worries about ‘inclusiveness and governance’.
Calderdale Council had written to Mr Gove warning about the ‘close links’ between the Sunniyy Islamic Centre and the school.
And David Whalley, the council’s Head of Learning, said: ‘The potential risk of a negative impact on community relations within the area is high.’
The Sunniyy Centre, which also runs an Islamic school and is said to hold hard-line theological views, apologised for the leaflet, which went out in December, saying it was ‘in parts poorly expressed and indelicate’.
The Department for Education said: ‘We judged that the capacity and capability of the group was not sufficient for the project to proceed.’
The school said: ‘We are devastated for the pupils, parents and staff.’
Read original post here: Michael Gove blocks flagship Islamic free school following links to terrorism
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