DAILY yoga classes, relaxing music and incense candles are all part of the vision for the first Hindu school in Britain.

The newly-appointed headteacher of the Krishna Avanti School spoke this week about the innovations she hopes to include in the new school in Edgware.

Naina Parmar said: "We want to have a nice, calm environment for the pupils, teachers and parents.

"We have to embrace the climate of change and be a school that innovates."

Ms Parmar was appointed as headteacher in January and has set her sights on extensively using the outdoor spaces within the new school, which will be built on the William Ellis Playing Fields, in Camrose Avenue.

She said: "Children will spend some time meditating in the outside grounds and we will be using the outdoor learning areas.

"It would be ideal to have days outside, celebrating events like St George's Day and inviting the whole community."

The school is due to open in September, using classrooms in Little Stanmore First and Middle School, in St Davids Drive, Edgware.

It will move into the purpose-built site in September 2009.

Every classroom will have large glass fronts facing out onto a courtyard where a temple will be is situated.

Also included is a meditation garden where organic plants will be grown, harvested and then cooked by the pupils.

School days will start at 8am, with teachers and staff welcoming pupils before taking off their shoes and going into morning prayers.

There will be prayer sessions at intervals during the day and five per cent of the curriculum will be dedicated to studying Hinduism. The Bhagavad Gita is the holy text from which pupils will be taught.

Ms Parmar said the Hindu faith will be an important part of the way the pupils are taught, but they will be taught about other faiths as well, with celebrations of major festivals including Christmas and Passover.

She said: "All Hindus share some ceremonies and I want to make sure we celebrate these.

"But I am very proud that our faith allows us to want to study and know about other faiths."

The school, which has recruited its first teacher, has had 28 applications for the first reception class and places are still available.

The school faced controversy recently, when its admissions policy was criticised for being too selective of Hindu children.

But it has now been revised by the governing body the I-Foundation, meaning pupils will be admitted if they are recognised by a temple.

Some local residents objected to the original plans for the Hindu school, but Mrs Parmar hopes local people will be involved in events at the school.

She said: "We want to foster a good relationship with the local community and local residents.

"It's a school where we want to take our duties seriously and promote community cohesion."