UK: Shock expressed, as state funded Muslim school's admissions policy gives priority to Sunni over Shia

Madani High School in Leicester has been criticised for giving priority to students from the Sunni sect of Islam

Just wondering what is all the disappointment about ~ as similar things should have been expected. But it is the 'first' school of its kind and it is being done with taxpayers money. Probably more of concern would be what they are teaching the children when the inspectors leave.


A Muslim school in Leicester has come under fire for giving priority to Sunni pupils over Shia ones, it has emerged.

Madani High School says it is the first purpose-built Islamic faith secondary school in the country.

It describes itself as an establishment that "will endeavour to fulfil demands from the Muslim community as priority".

But a probe by the schools adjudicator found its admission arrangements state that priority will be given to pupils who follow one of four schools of Islamic law - Hanafi, Shaf'i, Hanbali or Maliki. All these groups belong to the Sunni sect of Islam - the larger of the two main Muslim sects.

Schools adjudicator Dr Elizabeth Passmore found there were aspects of the school's admission arrangements that were unlawful and did not comply with the School Admissions Code.

The school claims to be the first purpose-built Islamic faith high school in Britain


She wrote in her report on the school: "It seems to me to be clear that the school was expected to be a Muslim faith school, equally accessible to all Muslims and not one giving priority to a particular group of Muslims."

The expectation that the school would be accessible to all Muslims may have contributed to the strong support it received, she added.

She said: "The arrangements for deciding whether an applicant should have priority for a place on the basis of the applicant's faith are at variance with the designated religious character of the school. The documents I have seen all refer to a Muslim faith school and therefore priority for a place can be given to Muslims and not limited to members of a particular Muslim sect."

The British Humanist Association described the existence of state schools that discriminate on religious grounds as "deeply wrong".

Chief executive Andrew Copson said: "The schools adjudicator is right to insist that admissions to state schools should be as broad and inclusive as possible. That is in the best interests of parents, pupils and society now and in the future."

PA