Unbeleivable

A GYM club is being forced to close at a girls' school after Muslim parents objected to their daughters coming into contact with boys.

The thriving Shirley Gymnastics Club, which has 250 members of both sexes, has been using the school hall five evenings a week for the past 14 months.

But now the independent all-girls Old Palace School in Croydon, south London, has asked the gym to find new premises following complaints from parents.

"It's unbelievable, " said club chairman Colin Perry. "There is a group of Muslim parents with children at the school and they are the ones putting pressure on the head. It makes me sad to say that."

Mr Perry has been "working non-stop" to find a new venue since December, when head Judy Harris first told him of the objections.

Now the club, which has just 36 boys among its members, has been ordered to stop using the school hall by April 3.

Mr Perry said: "Some of the parents have said their children go to an independent girls' school and unfortunately they're concerned because we have got boys in the club. Mrs Harris said the school has got far more Muslim children than last year, so effectively we have to interpret that in our own way."

In a bid to find a compromise, the school suggested the gym club start at 6.30pm, rather than 5pm, by which time school pupils would have left the site.

But Mr Perry said this was unworkable as it would mean some sessions not ending until 9.30pm, too late for many of the club's members, some as young as five.

Headteacher Mrs Harris released a statement but refused to give any further details about parents' objections.

She said: "We were unable to accommodate the early starting time of the club as the school was still functioning.

We had hoped that the club could be held at a later time but this was thought unworkable by the organisers."

Nick Seaton, of the Campaign for Real Education, said: "It seems extreme to force out a club that appears to be doing tremendous good work for children and the community. It's very difficult to see any great grounds for ruining opportunities for children."