Plans to open the borough’s first Hindu school reached a milestone this week when Redbridge Council bought the site from its owners – the United Synagogue Trust.
The school currently on the site in Carlton Drive, Barkingside – Ilford Jewish Primary School – will move to its new home on the King Solomon High School site in Forest Road, Barkingside.
In its place will be a new four-form entry school run by Hindu education charity I-Foundation, which won the bid for the site in May.
The new primary school, set to open in September 2012, will provide 840 places when full, and will also provide 52 places for nursery age children.
Cllr Alan Weinberg, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I’m very pleased that we’ve moved a step closer to opening this much-needed school on the Ilford Jewish Primary School site and that it’s all systems go now.”
Seventy-five per cent of the school’s places will be allocated to any pupils in the catchment area, regardless of their religious beliefs.
The remaining 25 per cent of the places will be given to local Hindu children.
Edward Anobah, chairman of governors of the new Krishna Avanti Primary School, said: “We are keen for the school to be a place that children from all backgrounds, regardless of faith, can come and receive a world class education.”
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