BRITAIN'S first state funded Hindu school is set to change the way it accepts students.

The original policy for the Krishna-Avanti Primary School, in Edgware, set aside ten places out of 30 for children chosen by the people who run the school.

This number is due to be halved, following a request by Harrow Council.

The policy has not been used this year because not enough families applied by the closing date, so the school started accepting pupils on a first come first served basis.

But it expects to be oversubscribed, and in future years Hindu children under the care of Harrow Council will be accepted first, followed by pupils with learning difficulties who are advised to go there by officers.

The school will only then be able to nominate children after siblings of existing pupils are accepted.

Building work on the school is expected to finish by September 2009, but teaching is due to start this Autumn, with classes being held in Little Stanmore First and Middle School, in St Davids Drive, Edgware.