A private faith school has applied to become one of the government's new state-funded 'free' schools.
Barnsley Christian School which is linked to the Hope House Church, Blucher Street, was founded 25-years ago.Senior minister Paul Bedford said the fees of up to £360 a month meant sections of the community were priced out. He hoped becoming a free school would extend the reach of the school which has a Christian ethos.
"We are a fee-paying school but a community school at the same time. The fees exclude some people.
"An application was sent to the government, which has asked for more information about the proposals. Paul said it was part of a business development plan.
"The idea is to get the school to a capacity of 120 or 130. At that point we would begin to look at the possibility of expansion."The Christian ethos meant there was a focus on spiritual development but selection would not be based on faith or ethnicity, he said.
"We teach about other faiths from a position of respect. We prefer to talk about respecting other faiths rather than tolerating them. We would never impose Christianity on anybody."
The national curriculum would be followed, he added.
