EDUCATION chiefs today unveiled plans for Blackburn's first publicly-funded Islamic schools as part of a multi-faith education revolution.

Talks are underway which could give the town state Islamic high and primary schools.

They would be the first in Lancashire -- others already exist in Bradford, Birmingham, Liverpool and Brent in London.

Director of Education and Lifelong Learning Mark Pattison revealed:

l That the council is looking at helping an existing independent Islamic high school to become a voluntary-aided Islamic high school, where parents would not have to pay.

l It is talking with the Government, the Lancashire Council of Mosques and Blackburn Diocese about the possibility of transforming a Church of England or community primary school into a voluntary-aided Islamic primary school.

l It is working with Blackburn Diocese to explore changing an existing high school into a Church of England high school welcoming pupils from all faiths, or a multi-faith City Academy high school.

So far, one school has been identified in consultations -- Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School in Bicknell Street , Shear Brow, which has approached the council about opting into the state system. Tauheedul has about 300 pupils, mostly aged 11to16 but with a small sixth form. Last week it won a high placing in the Government's school league tables.

Mr Pattison emphasised that no decisions had yet been taken and the council's executive board was in continuing discussions with parents, schools and faith groups. An announcement will be made in March and there will be no changes before September 2003 at the earliest, he added.

He said: "The cultural and religious diversity of Blackburn with Darwen is one of its greatest strengths, but also one of its greatest challenges."

The proposals follow independent research carried out for the council which revealed that parents from all sections of the community want their children to attend a school which provides strong moral and religious education.

The two Islamic schools would join 39 Christian state schools in the borough, and education chiefs say they recognise that many Muslim parents want their children to go to an Islamic school which is inside the state system.

The three church high schools in the borough, St Wilfrid's CE, St Bede's RC and Our Lady and St John RC,were each over-subscribed this year.

Councillor Mahfooz Hussain, Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, added: "The proposals also include the local education authority working with the Blackburn Diocese and other faith groups to set up a new high school welcoming all faiths.

"This could be a new City Academy, which would then attract extra government funding and private sponsorship to provide first-class facilities."

The Government has just introduced the concept of City Academies, which are aimed at raising educational standards in "disadvantaged and needy areas."

As well as Government funding they will attract sponsorship from non-profit making foundation groups, which could include the private sector. Otherwise, they would run in the same way as voluntary-aided schools, where the foundation group, such as the Church of England, is responsible for 15 per cent of capital costs.

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters, said: "These are imaginative proposals which recognise the faith and moral values of the communities who live in the borough. We are looking forward to exploring their practical implications with the local authority."

And Ibrahim Master, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, added: "Parents, schools and faith groups are united in their views that education in Blackburn with Darwen should teach respect, tolerance and community harmony."

Of the 59 primary schools in Blackburn with Darwen six have more than 90 per cent ethnic minority pupils

Among community high schools, Beardwood has 92 per cent ethnic minority pupils, Pleckgate 64 per cent and Queen's Park 33 per cent. At St Wilfrid's CE the figure is one per cent.