No faith over free schools

It also opens up the possibility of schools being run by individuals who do not have the best interests of the whole community at heart because of their personal beliefs. This is very worrying, particularly in a multi-cultural city like Bradford where schools should be one of the primary means of encouraging integration.

In a city that was torn apart by race riots nearly a decade ago, it is even more imperative that community cohesion underpins the work of the state – whether it be in the provision of schools or other local services. If young people from different faiths can learn and grow up side by side, Bradford is likely to become a far more harmonious place to live in the longer term.

On this basis alone, there needs to be the fullest possible examination of the motivations behind the proposed Rainbow Free School. Even though Ministers are keen for such schemes to go ahead, presumably to justify their policy, this must not happen if any such proposal is detrimental to the wider community because of a bias towards one religious faith.

This is even more pertinent after Ayub Ismail, one of the instigators of the Rainbow Free School, wrote a report in which he warned that Muslim pupils are disadvantaged and marginalised in Bradford's schools because the curriculum's cultural heritage is "European and Christian". His report was effective endorsement of a segregated, faith-led education system – a tenet that is totally contrary to Education Secretary Michael Gove's intentions.

And, while the school's backers are, understandably, keen to allay the public's fears, there are no guarantees that the school's ethos will be multi-cultural if and when it opens its doors. For this reason, the Government and education decision-makers need to think very carefully about endorsing a plan that could have long-term social repercussions unless it can be proven that youngsters from all faiths will be treated equally.