A NEW type of Islamic school for Muslim and non-Muslim children opens its doors in Oxford this month.

The Meco Saturday Islamic School bills itself as the first school of its kind. Open to children of all faiths it will feature mixed classes and pupils will not be required to wear headscarves or skull caps.

Run by the Muslim Education Centre of Oxford, principal Dr Taj Hargey said the aim was to allow pupils to learn about Muslim identity while becoming "integrated and productive" British citizens.

He said: "It is unique and we hope it will pave the way for many others like it."

He added: "Meco has been running for six years, promoting Islam and intergration to adults, but what we have realised - and what parents have told us - is that this teaching needs to start in childhood.

"Too often, Muslim youngsters are taught that British values are about negative things, like binge drinking, promiscuity and drugs. We not only know this to be wrong, but we also feel it makes youngsters feel isolated from the society in which they live from an early age.

"We want children to grow up retaining their faith, but also knowing they are British citizens with responsibilities to Britain."

The Meco School will instruct children in the basic fundamentals of Islam. They will learn to speak, read and write in classical Arabic up to GCSE level.

Dr Hargey said: "Whereas many other Islamic schools focus on memorisation and rote learning, we will teach using modern techniques, right up to GCSE proficiency.

"Classes, apart from Arabic, will be taught in English. Pupils will learn that Islam is a religion, not a culture and citizenship will be very important - no child will pass his or her course, for example, unless they know the full English meaning of Arabic prayers."

He added: "We will be thrilled to welcome non-Muslim children whose parents would like them to learn Arabic."

Twenty Muslim children have already signed up for the Saturday classes.

Meco aims to raise numbers to 100 by the time the new terms starts in September.

The Meco Saturday Islamic School opens on April 26 and runs classes for six- to 16-year-olds at The Cherwell School, in Marston Ferry Road.

For details,contact info@meco.org.uk or telephone 01865 766032/07802165680.