MP welcomes delay ‘in interest of community’

Halifax MP Linda Riordan has welcomed moves to put plans for a new free school on hold in the interests of “community cohesion”.

The plans from the Northern Lights Educational Trust for a primary free school in Halifax have been delayed by the Government until officials at the Department for Education (DfE) can complete an official investigation into allegations linked to hardline Islamic views.

Ms Riordan said: “The position of the Department for Education underlines how seriously they are taking this issue.

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“I am reassured with their stance. My priority, like many others, is to ensure community cohesion is not undermined in any way.”

A DfE spokesman said proposals would not go any further until their inquiry into allegations of religious extremism had concluded.

Northern Lights has denied all allegations of extremism and said it was unaware of the scope of the DfE’s investigation.

A DfE spokesman said: “We take any form of extremism very seriously. We are investigating and if these serious allegations are confirmed we will not hesitate to take appropriate action.

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“We will not take this project further until these matters are resolved.”

The MP had raised her concerns with the DfE and has now received a letter from Schools Minister Lord Nash which stated: “If these allegations are substantiated, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action. You are right that no decision has yet been taken to allow the Northern Lights Free School to open, and we will not take the project further until we have completed our investigation.”

The investigation is being run by the DfE’s Due Diligence and Counter Extremism Division whose remit is to protect children and young people from exposure to extremist views in schools and in out of school education.

Concerns initially stemmed from a leaflet sent out in November to parents by the Sunniyy School, a community partner of Northern Lights, which included extreme religious views which have since been disowned.

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Lord Nash’s letter to Ms Riordan said “...the content of the leaflet dated 16 November is particularly unacceptable.

“We were aware of these previously and have raised our concerns with the Northern Lights Free School group which, it is alleged, was linked to the authors of the leaflet. We are looking further into what links might exist between the Sunniyy School and the Northern Lights Free School group as part of our investigation.”

In a statement, the proposed free school said: “The Northern Lights Educational Trust is not aware of any such investigations other than the due diligence checks that need to be completed into all free school applications.

“The Trust has a good working relationship with diverse members of the community and with the Prevent Policing Group (which tackles extremism) and looks forward to strengthening all working partnerships.”

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If the school were to get the go-ahead it is due to open in September. Northern Lights ultimately hopes to cater for 210 children but a phased opening for 120 Reception to Year 3 children is initially planned. The site for the proposed school is not yet confirmed, but it is likely in the Park ward.

An job advert on Northern Lights’ website says is not a faith-designated school, but has a “Sunniyy Islamic Ethos.” It says the ethos “is our guiding set of values and principles... expressed as a set of common shared values that are rooted in Islam.”

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