A school that served only halal meat in lunches has been forced to change its menu after protests from parents.

Rose Hill Primary School in Oxford, decided to use meat only from animals slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law saying it was consumable by all religions.

The school was the first in the country to ask caterers to provide a halal only menu, but angry parents, who were initially kept in the dark about the decision, protested against the policy and have forced the school to backtrack.

Sue Mortimer, headmistress at the school, has now written to parents confirming that children will have “three choices at lunchtime” between meat, halal meat, and vegetarian. The children will be given coloured wrist bands to indicate their choice before school dinners are served.

Lyndsy Johnson, a parent at the school, told the Oxford Mail: "We're glad now that we have got the three options. That is how it should have been to start off with."

A spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council said the school had purchased new equipment to keep halal and non-halal meat separate.

Dr Taj Hargey, chairman of the Muslim Education Centre of Oxford, said: “This is the best solution to improving community relations.”

Halal preparation

For meat to be halal, or permissible, it must come from a healthy animal slaughtered using a process known as zibah. The jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe of the animal is cut in one clean motion and a prayer is simultaneously offered to Allah. All the blood from the animal must be drained before the meat can be classed as halal.