UK Catholic primary school set to convert to Islamic faith

[Newsjock]

Source: The Independent

A Roman Catholic primary school in the heart of an Asian community in Lancashire looks set to become the first in the country to convert to an Islamic faith school.

Just a decade ago, Sacred Heart RC Primary School in Blackburn was a flourishing Catholic community, with 91 per cent of its pupil intake professing the faith. Now that number has dwindled to no more than 3 per cent.

As a result, the Diocese of Salford – which is responsible for the running of the school – has concluded it is no longer "appropriate" for the Catholic Church to remain in charge. Instead, its future is the subject of a consultation, with the local mosque a leading contender to take over the day-to-day running of the school.

The 197-pupil school is in the centre of Blackburn and its pupils are largely from ethnic minority groups, with Indians and Pakistanis in the majority. In all, around 97 per cent of its intake is Muslim.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/catholic-primary-school-set-to-convert--to-islamic-faith-2089112.html