9:50am Friday 14th November 2008
By James Wallin
THE Muslim community in Swindon has expressed surprise at a bid to run a new primary school in Oakhurst as an Islamic faith school.
The bid by the little known Al Habib Islamic Centre to run north Swindon’s newest primary school, was revealed in the Adver yesterday.
Residents and community leaders have questioned if Swindon has a large enough Muslim community to warrant a faith school and if Oakhurst is the most suitable location.
Azim Khan, chairman of the Thamesdown Islamic Association, said: “I am very surprised about these plans and I am concerned that members of the Muslim community in Swindon have not been consulted.
“I think they should have asked people in the community before putting in their bid, to make sure the need was there.
“I’m not sure that Swindon is a big enough place for this kind of school.
“It works in somewhere like Birmingham, because they have a large Muslim community, but in Swindon I don’t know where they would find the students and where they would find the teachers.”
Most people in the Broadgreen area seemed to agree with Mr Khan.
Rokib Ali said the distance would be the biggest obstacle for him.
“I don’t think I would send my children to north Swindon – a town centre location would be better,” he said.
“In theory I think any faith school could be good, as long as it is well run.”
Raj Aga, a Manchester Road shopkeeper, agreed.
He said: “I think an Islamic faith school is a good idea but I think north Swindon is too far for people to send their children.
“I don’t know much about the Al Habib centre but I would be interested to know about its plans.”
Dr Nicholas Capstick, headteacher at Drove Primary School, the most ethnically diverse school in Swindon with pupils of 30 different languages, did not see a problem with the idea of an Islamic faith school.
“I think single faith schools can be good, but there needs to be a proviso that they cannot have total exclusivity,” he said.
“With just Muslim children being there you are going to miss out on the rich diversity that really is Swindon.
“If you have a mono-cultural heritage in a school it actually doesn’t bring about as much cultural cohesion and understanding as may be at a multi faith school.”
However, he expressed surprise at the north Swindon location proposed as the demand would be more in the central areas of the town.
He said: “What you would be doing is pulling from the four corners of Swindon to make it viable.”
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