Faith schools undermine equality, choice and social cohesion.
Let's build an inclusive education system today, to ensure an inclusive society tomorrow.
Our education system should be open and welcoming to all. That's why we want publicly funded faith schools phased out and an end to religiously selective school admissions.
Around a third of publicly funded schools in England and Wales are faith schools – schools with a religious character. Scottish and Northern Irish schools are still divided along sectarian lines.
Separating children according to religion is divisive and leads to religious, ethnic and socio-economic segregation.
To make matters worse, many faith schools can discriminate against pupils and teachers who do not share the religion of the school.
Parents are entitled to raise their children within a faith tradition, but they are not entitled to enlist the help of the state to do so. The state should not allow the schools it funds to inculcate children into a particular religion.
Faith schools seriously limit choice for parents who do not want a religious education for their children, or do not share the faith of the local school. Our research has found that 18,000 families were assigned faith schools against their wishes in England in 2017 alone.
Despite a consistent and dramatic decline in church attendance, and a growing majority of non-religious citizens, successive governments have paved the way for ever greater religious involvement in education, often to the detriment of inclusive community schools.
A secular approach to education would ensure publicly funded schools are equally welcoming to all children, regardless of their backgrounds.
Take action!
1. Write to your MP
Please call on your MP to support a secular, inclusive education system for all.
2. Share your story
Tell us why you support this campaign, and how you are personally affected by the issue. You can also let us know if you would like assistance with a particular issue.
3. Join us
Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
Latest updates
Pupils in Jewish schools gender segregated for different RE lessons
Posted: Wed, 29 Nov 2017 16:51
The National Secular Society has called on the Department for Education (DfE) to investigate a number of state-funded Jewish schools where pupils receive different religious education lessons according to their gender.
NSS research suggests male and female pupils at some Jewish schools are not being given an equal education, because they are taught a different curriculum during Religious Studies. The NSS says this is clear breach of equality law.
One example is Beit Shvidler Primary School, a Voluntary Aided school in Barnet. The overview of their Limmudei Kodesh (Jewish Studies) on their website states: "Boys and girls learn together in their kodesh lessons until the end of Y4. In Y5 and Y6, some of the kodesh lessons are split with the boys studying Gemoro whilst the girls study a unique Sefer Hachinuch curriculum as well as Megillos Esther and Megillos Rus."
Another state Jewish school that is segregating pupils is Hasmonean High School, a mixed academy in Hendon. According to its website, "in accordance with the ethos of the school, boys and girls are taught separately on two campuses". Additionally, the curriculum page reveals that boys and girls are taught different Chumash (Torah reading) studies, boys only are taught Gemara (commentary on part of the Talmud), and that only girls appear to be taught PE.
In October the Department for Education gave Hasmonean the green light to undergo an 'administrative split', in order to avoid any implications of the recent ruling that gender segregation at Al-Hijrah school in Birmingham was unlawful sex discrimination. The school's executive headteacher told parents that the "DfE will require Hasmonean to de-amalgamate into two separate schools but there will be no further implications for the school other than this".
The King David High School, a Jewish Academy in Manchester, also segregates male and female pupils into two units, Yavneh Girls and Yavneh Boys.
Hasmonean High School and The King David High School both received 'Outstanding' grades in their most recent Ofsted reports.
Religious education provision at these schools is inspected by the Board of Deputies of British Jews inspection body Pikuach, not Ofsted.
Segregated Jewish Studies also take place in Barnet, at Hasmonean Primary School and Menorah Foundation School, and in Brent, at North West London Jewish Day School. All of these schools are state-funded. In all cases, certain aspects of Judaism that are taught to boys are not taught to girls.
Some schools were also found to practice segregation in extra-curricular and collective worship activities. An example is the Moriah Jewish Day School's equalities policy, which states: "Pupils are taught about the equal but different functions of men and women in ancient Jewish tradition e.g. in our pre-Sabbath assembly, girls light the candles and boys recite the Kiddush."
Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School in Manchester and Menorah Primary School also previously described different Jewish Studies curricula and expectations for boys and girls on their websites. Their websites have now changed since the NSS raised the issue with the DfE.
The findings contradict the words of Rabbi David Meyer, Executive Director of the Partnership For Jewish Schools (PaJeS), after the Al-Hijrah ruling. Rabbi Meyer defended gender segregation in co-educational schools by saying: "The DfE has every right to expect schools to offer the same opportunities to boys and girls. However the rights of parents to determine how this should be delivered should be unquestioned."
The NSS's research suggests boys and girls are receiving separate and unequal education in some Jewish orthodox schools. Pupils at Al-Hijrah were receiving the same curriculum.
Stephen Evans, NSS chief executive, said: "All children should be entitled to an equal education. Here we have a clear example of religion's role in state-funded education leading to unequal opportunities for boys and girls.
"Whilst faith schools are granted equality exemptions to discriminate in a number of ways, this only relates to the grounds of religion or belief – not gender. England's archaic and unsatisfactory approach to religious education means that some faith schools can still use the subject to inculcate religious dogma. In these schools it also involves the troubling perpetuation of patriarchal gender norms.
"Any government seriously concerned about gender equality and the independent rights of the child would not allow this to happen – let alone hand over taxpayers' money to fund it."
Ofsted to consult and publish guidance on religious clothing policy
Posted: Wed, 29 Nov 2017 16:06
The schools inspectorate Ofsted has said it will consult "a range of stakeholders" before finalising guidance over its approach to religious garments such as hijabs.
In a statement an Ofsted spokesperson said the body would "hold further discussions with our inspector workforce and with groups such as the Association of Muslim Schools, school leaders and individual MPs". It said it would take into account "the views we have canvassed and the need to ensure equality for pupils" and finalise its guidance "on this sensitive matter in a considered way".
Ofsted also said its inspectors would not "single out individual children", despite a "misconception" to the contrary.
"Inspectors already routinely talk to groups of children about a range of issues, such as discrimination, bullying and their understanding of other cultures. Exploring why primary age girls are wearing the hijab may be another theme they discuss along with other issues such as relationships, bullying and radicalisation."
The statement comes amid a row over Ofsted attempts to tackle the normalisation of Islamic fundamentalist attitudes to gender in schools, particularly among young children. Last week Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said she would recommend to inspectors that they should ask primary school children why they wear the hijab.
Her announcement came shortly after a meeting with feminist campaigners, mainly from Muslim backgrounds, who raised concerns about the rise of the hijab in primary schools.
Some responded by accusing her of targeting Muslim girls. A letter signed by more than 1,100 teachers, academics and 'faith leaders' said: "It is a kneejerk, discriminatory and institutionally racist response that will violate civil liberties and create a climate of fear and mistrust in schools, and must be retracted immediately."
The signatories included the likes of: Moazzam Begg of CAGE, an advocacy group which campaigns for suspected and convicted jihadis; Dr Shazad Amin of Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND), which has frequently attacked liberal Muslims and been accused of promoting conspiracy theories about terrorist attacks; and Harun Rashid Khan of the Muslim Council of Britain, which has been accused of undermining de-radicalisation efforts.
A joint statement from councils of mosques in Manchester, Stockport, Bolton, Oldham and Rochdale alleged that Ms Spielman had failed to "consult with a wide range of grassroots community groups". The groups said parents should not "allow your daughters to be subject to questioning by Ofsted inspectors about your daughter wearing the hijab".
They also accused the campaigners of being "disconnected from grassroots communities", exhibiting "an intolerant, unsound and incoherent understanding of Islam and Muslim practice" and "stirring up anti-Muslim hatred".
One Labour MP, Afzal Khan, called for the names of the campaigners to be published. In a blog for the National Secular Society, activist Yasmin Rehman said such demands had "worrying echoes of the lists compiled by religious fundamentalists that have resulted in attacks on, and murders of, activists campaigning for gender equality, human rights and civil liberties in Bangladesh, Pakistan and elsewhere".
Ofsted's statement said it was aware that discussing the reasons why children wear faith-related garments was "uncomfortable for some". But it said it had "a responsibility to take seriously concerns about pressures children face in schools, and to ensure there is no detriment either to their learning or to their preparation for life in modern Britain".
In recent weeks NSS research has found that girls in dozens of English schools are forced to wear hijab, while nearly 60% of Jewish schools enforce religious dress. A Sunday Times survey also found that one in five primary schools had listed the hijab within their uniform policies.
The NSS said it welcomed Ofsted's commitment to developing guidance on the subject.
Stephen Evans, the NSS's chief executive, said: "We trust that any forthcoming guidance will make clear that it is wholly unacceptable for schools to have uniform policies that require pupils to wear religious clothing. Such policies are at odds with the fundamental British value of individual liberty and with wider human rights norms on children's rights.
"Schools should also be clear that where they feel the accommodation of religious clothing undermines the aims of the uniform policy, they are within their rights to refuse parents' – or pupils' – demands for accommodations to be made.
"It is telling that even the suggestion that Ofsted might try to deal with fundamentalist attitudes to women and girls has sparked a ferocious backlash, smears against those involved and a welter of misinformation. This has come not only from Islamist troublemakers but from many in respected positions in industries such as academia. Such is the evidence of how deeply-rooted deference to religion remains within our society."
Ofsted statement in full
"Recently Her Majesty's Chief Inspector and senior Ofsted colleagues met with a group of Muslim women to discuss the increasing number of primary schools that are including the hijab as either a compulsory or optional item in their uniform policy. This was a matter of concern to the group given that, traditionally, the hijab is not worn until girls reach puberty, as a mark of modesty as they become young women.
"We are aware that discussing the reasons why children wear certain garments related to their faith in school is uncomfortable for some, and that doing so would be controversial. However, as an inspectorate we have a responsibility to take seriously concerns about pressures children face in schools, and to ensure there is no detriment either to their learning or to their preparation for life in modern Britain.
"In developing and clarifying our inspection policies we regularly meet a range of stakeholders, including those from different faith groups. Similarly, we intend to hold further discussions with our inspector workforce and with groups such as the Association of Muslim Schools, school leaders and individual MPs as we develop our guidance for inspectors on this sensitive matter in a considered way. When we have completed our discussions we will finalise the published guidance for inspectors, taking into account the views we have canvassed and the need to ensure equality for pupils.
"In the meantime, before we are in a position to publish further guidance, it is important to clarify a particular misconception that has taken hold since that original meeting.
"Inspectors will not be singling out individual children. Inspectors already routinely talk to groups of children about a range of issues, such as discrimination, bullying and their understanding of other cultures. Exploring why primary age girls are wearing the hijab may be another theme they discuss along with other issues such as relationships, bullying and radicalisation.
"All our inspectors are either current or former school leaders or teachers themselves, so they know how to talk to children and ask questions sensitively. They ensure that such questions are appropriate to the age of the children, and their culture and faith."
More information
Protect relationships and sex education
Age-appropriate relationships and sex education should be every child’s right.
Remove religious appointees from Scottish councils
Religion shouldn’t grant people privileged places in local democracy.
Research and reports
The faith schools research bank
The choice delusion: how faith schools restrict school choice
Three in ten families across England live in areas where most or all of the closest primary schools are faith schools and thousands are being assigned faith schools against their wishes.
Power grab: Academisation and the threat to secular education
Academisation has enabled faith groups to increase their influence over all schools, including those with no religious character. With little public debate, religious governance has increased, while secular oversight has diminished.
Religiosity inspections: the case against faith-based reviews of state schools
Faith based inspections of state schools are an unnecessary drain on public finds, frame widely held values as exclusive, and promote biased religious education.
Faith-shaped holes: How religious privilege is undermining equality law (PDF, 1.3 Mb)
