Teach Islam in our schools, says Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis

A spokesman for Rabbi Mirvis explained: “Losing 25 per cent of the time allotted for teaching Jewish studies as part of the religious studies GCSE was a serious loss for Jewish education in our schools.”

But he added: “It is more important than ever that our children have a better understanding of Islam and that we build strong relationships with British Muslims.

“As such, the Chief Rabbi has recommended that schools take this opportunity to teach students Islam, a faith which is widely discussed but often poorly understood in public discourse.”

The change in the curriculum would provide “a valuable opportunity”, he said. “Although the Chief Rabbi has not issued any formal guidance on this issue — since, ultimately, it is for the schools themselves to judge how best to tailor their curriculum — we have had a series of positive discussions with a number of our schools and made recommendations to them.”

The government ordered the change as part of its moves to counter religious extremism and promote tolerance.

But the Chief Rabbi argued last year that Jewish schools needed the course time to be devoted to Jewish studies in a crowded GCSE timetable.

When the proposal to teach a second faith as part of the GCSE religious studies curriculum was announced in September last year, it prompted fury from some religious groups.

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