EDUCATION chiefs are confident a plan to create Lancashire's first Muslim state school will become a reality as of September next year.

Privately-run Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School, Shear Brow, Blackburn, applied to the local authority in 2003 to become voluntary-aided, like the town's three church schools.

That followed a council report saying there was a growing trend for Muslim parents to place children in independent Muslim schools and the only way to ensure better cohesion was to provide a Muslim school within the LEA.

After public consultation the application got council approval in January 2004.

Because a year has elapsed since the consultation, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is duty bound to invite further public feedback.

A six-week consultation period started on March 3.

Last summer Department of Education and Skills (DfES) funding was granted for Tauheedul and 250 children are expected to be on the new school's books in its first year.

The school, which will remain in its present site has a capacity for 300 pupils.

A six-period, 8.30am to 1.30pm day will be replaced with a more traditional timetable and, instead of selecting girls whose parents are members of Masjid-e-Tauheedul.

The school will follow the admissions policy set out in legislation and the local education authority's (LEA) Code of Practice.

It will receive the same level of support as all other publicly funded schools and will also be subject to the same national curriculum guidelines and inspection regime.

Once the consultation period is over the proposals will go to the School Organisation Committee -- an independent body representing all those involved in education locally.

It includes both the Church of England and Roman Catholic dioceses, the council, the Lancashire Council of Mosques and the Learning and Skills Council.

The council's executive member for education and lifelong learning David Hollings is confident the application will successfully negotiate this final hurdle.

Coun Hollings added: "This will be our 38th faith school and am sure it will be a valuable addition to the borough and should open in September 2006."

Critics of the development say the expansion of faith schools could divide the community.

Coun Maureen Bateson said when the plans were revealed: "We shouldn't be asking whether there should be a Muslim faith school, but whether we should have any faith schools."

But Coun Hollings disagreed, saying: "I welcome and support the school's request to join the family of schools in Blackburn with Darwen.

"The council is committed to meeting the clear parental desire for an Islamic faith school in the borough."