Education Secretary Damian Hinds witnessed how a Jewish school can welcome children from other faiths when he visited South London primary Mosaic.

The school, which opened five years ago, takes around half its pupils from outside the Jewish community.

Mosaic, he said, was “a fantastic example of the free schools programme, with a different approach, a strong faith-based ethos and a diverse intake” .

His visit included a presentation on preparing for Shabbat from the school’s Torah team and meeting Mosaic’s therapy dog, Barney.

Shirley Lee, founding chair of governors, said Mosaic was "a faith school for our times. It is in its sixth year and thriving. We have succeeded in attracting a diverse range of families from across local communities.”

The school, situated in Roehampton, was oversubscribed for the first time this autumn.