Written question asked by Gordon Prentice (Labour) on Thursday, 4 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 March 2010. It was answered by Diana Johnson (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 March 2010 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Faith Schools: Islam

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of the number of children who are being educated at Muslim schools.

Answer: There are currently 11 maintained Muslim schools (six primary schools and five secondary schools), all of which have opened since 1997, out of a total of 20,099 maintained schools. We are not currently aware of any proposals for new maintained Muslim schools which have been approved to open.According to the January 2009 school census, there are 4,230 pupils being educated at the 11 maintained Muslim schools (1,933 at primary and 2,297 at secondary) and 16,543 pupils being educated at the 117 independent Muslim schools.

Secondary information