LEICESTER, UK (September 4, 2014)—The AkaalEducation Trust, led by 4 members of the Sikh community, has now been replaced by Paul Stone’s Discovery Trust to open the Sikh-faith Falcons Primary School, Leicester.
The Department for Education (DfE) has given an ultimatum stating that unless the non-Sikh Discovery Trust is the leading body, the school will not be able to open at all.
As a result of the decision, a series of events have taken place, leading to the cancellation of the FUNDING
agreement by the DfE, even though alternative options had been proposed by Akaal Education Trust in line with contractual requirements.
Chair of Governors Paul Stone is accused of deliberately misleading the DfE in order to gain control of the Sikh school. Sikhs have pointed out that members of the governing body and staff that resigned from Falcons Primary were closely linked to the Discovery Trust, suggesting that their motives have been questionable from the start.
Many Sikhs have voiced their disagreement with the faith-school being run by a non-Sikh body, particularly by those accused of undermining the British and Sikh values on which Falcons Primary School is based.
The DfE continue to insist on a non-Sikh body. Sikhs are voicing their concern and petitioning that the DfE reconsider their decision.