I-Foundation is an affiliate and offshoot of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna movement. ISKCON has had a number of child abuse cases brought against it in the past.

Concerns have been raised over allegations that Gauri Das, who will be the 'spiritual head' of the school's affairs when it opens, used to hit children when he was teaching at an Ashram in India. Gauri Das is currently serving as President of the Bhaktivedanta Manor in Watford - the biggest ISKCON temple in Britain

Arjun Malik, spokesman of Hindu Human Rights, said: "We have received emails for a while now, expressing concerns about allegations that Gauri Dasa used to beat children. We do not wish to defame any organisation, but parents will obviously not feel safe sending their children to a school which has such a man involved."

Mr Dasa claimed that corporal punishment was part of the disciplinary structure of ISKCON schools in 1970s and 80s.

He said: "All these allegations stem from an anonymous email sent out to some website. Its contents are full of half-truths.

"In the 1970s and '80s corporal punishment was part of the disciplinary plans of ISKCON schools in India and the US. It was stopped over a decade ago.

Gurukuli Dasa, a former member of ISKCON's Vrindavan ashram in India, claims in an article on www.harekrsna.com: "Asram teacher Gauri Dasa, formerly Gudakesa, used to beat the kids with slaps and sticks..."

Many residents around the school's proposed site have also voiced opposition to the school. Initially opposition was raised with regards to the potential for increased traffic and loss of open space in the local area. However, in the last fortnight a pamphlet was widely circulated in the area, amongst other things discussing the alleged child abuse cases against ISKCON.

Jay Dilip Lakhani is co-ordinator of Vivekananda Centre, an academic body that promotes Hindu studies in schools in Britain. Mr Lakhani said: "None of the allegations against Gauri Dasa have been proven, but ISKCON has a poor reputation due to the child-abuse lawsuits filed against it in the past."

Ramesh Kallidai, secretary-general of Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB), is an initiated member of ISKCON. Mr Kallidai said: "Gauri Dasa is our spiritual ambassador. We are yet to see any hard evidence against him. We are glad ISKCON is associated with the first faith school."

Nitesh Gor, spokesman for I-Foundation, said: "As for child-abuse allegations against ISKCON in the US, there have been paedophilia charges against the Roman Catholic Church as well, but that doesn't mean the entire institution must be boycotted."