A SCHOOL in Blackburn is to drop the Christian faith at assemblies because 95 per cent of its pupils are Muslim.

Governors at Hawthorns County Junior, Holly Street, have asked to be exempted from the rules on religious education.

And head teacher John Orgill has written to Lancashire County Council calling for Christianity to be replaced by a non-religious moral code during collective worship.

Recent changes to the law mean schools can now apply for special dispensation.

If the change is approved the Christian idea of God would be replaced by a "non-denominational entity."

Around 300 pupils are taught at the school and 95 per cent of the youngsters are Muslim. The remaining five per cent are made up of Christians and Jehovah's Witnesses.

The number of Muslims at the Hawthorns has stayed the same for around 17 years and there are no signs of it changing in the future. Under the current rules assemblies and collective acts of worship have to be made up of "wholly or mainly Christian content".

In a letter to Lancashire County Council John Orgill said: "If the dispensation is approved the school will adopt a policy on collective worship whose objectives will state the need to develop social moral and spiritual teaching and learning.

"The school will adopt a stance which favours no single religious faith while recognising and drawing from the texts and meanings from many."

Major festivals of all religions would be used as themes at school assemblies along with current news events and affairs.

Charity events and appeals will also be launched at the assemblies in a bid to teach pupils a sense of responsibility.

County Hall's standing advisory council on religious education will decide on whether to give dispensation when it meets on Monday.

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