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
Tory MP calls for all sex education to be scrapped
Posted: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 17:08
During a debate introducing the Sex and Relationships Education (Curriculum) Bill to parliament this week, Conservative MP Philip Davies blamed "sex education fanatics" for a rise in unwanted pregnancies since the 1970s, and called for "less sex education, or even better, none".
Responding to a speech by Labour MP Diana Johnson, introducing a Private Member's Bill to make provision to include education about sex and relationships, resilience against bullying and sexual abuse and ending violence against women and girls in the national curriculum, Davies said: "my job as a parent is to bring up my children with my values and the values I think are important to instil in them". Mr Davies argued that the responsibility for educating children about sex and relationships lay solely with parents, and called for the education system to have no role in educating children about sex.
Johnson cited figures from a Mumsnet survey, in which 92% of respondents wanted sex education to be compulsory in secondary schools and just under 70% wanted compulsory sex and relationship education in primary schools. A YouGov poll last year found similar levels of public support, with 86% agreeing that sex and relationships education "which addresses sexual consent and respectful relationships" should be compulsory in secondary schools.
Davies also objected to calls for "better sex education", instead urging re-evaluation of the "benefit system and the housing allocation system" to "tackle issues such as teenage pregnancies". In 2012 an Ofsted report found that PSHE education was inadequate or required improvement in 40% of English schools.
Davies is a member of the Cornerstone Group, a grouping of Conservative MPs dedicated to 'faith, flag and family' and to upholding "traditional marriage".
During the debate Johnson referenced historic sex abuse in Rotherham and Rochdale, and quoted from the Jay Report which found that young people "in the course of the Inquiry were scathing about the sex education they received at school".
Davies also discussed the grooming and child sex abuse scandal in Rotherham, but argued for an "anti-political correctness Bill" to prevent such abuse from recurring. In 2012 Ofsted found that where "sex and relationships education is weak, pupils are left vulnerable to inappropriate sexual behaviours and exploitation".
The National Secular Society is committed to statutory sex and relationship education for all children as a fundamental human right.
Stephen Evans, NSS campaigns manager, said: "Statutory SRE is about having an education policy based on evidence, and the evidence clearly shows that teaching children about sex and relationships in an age-appropriate manner reduces levels of teenage pregnancy and encourages a healthier, more knowledgeable and sexually autonomous younger generation."
In her speech, Diana Johnson argued: "we want parents and families to be part of the discussions with youngsters about relationships and keeping safe, but we cannot stand back and hope that all families will have those conversations". Johnson, who was Minister for Schools under the last Labour Government, went on to say that "we know that it is often the most vulnerable children who do not have family support in this area".
Speaking earlier in the week before the Education Select Committee was to hear evidence on this issue, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said that "as long as PSHE remains a non-statutory and non-examined subject, with a low priority in the Ofsted framework, there will be virtually no coverage of PSHE in teacher training. In school, PSHE teachers are not given the curriculum time or training that they need – statutory status is key".
Philip Davies was quoted last week saying that he agreed with Nigel Farage about "virtually everything", though he appeared to go further than UKIP on this issue. Whilst UKIP want to "scrap sex and relationship education for children under 11", Mr Davies explicitly called for all sex and relationship education to be removed from the curriculum entirely and for it to be taught solely by parents.
A similar amendment to the Children and Families Bill tabled in January, which would have required compulsory SRE lessons in schools, was defeated by the Government in the House of Lords. Education Minister Lord Nash argued at the time that the amendment would "remove from teachers and governors any control over their schools' approach". In response sexual health charity Brook said they were "disappointed but not deterred by the Lords' vote against statutory sex and relationships education". The charity went on to state that the amendment would have helped "young people to make healthier choices around relationships and sex".
The Sex and Relationships (Curriculum) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 21 October 2014 under the Ten Minute Rule. It will now face a second reading in the Commons on Friday 21 November.
Ofsted denies ‘bullying and traumatising’ Jewish pupils
Posted: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 13:36
Ofsted has denied claims that it acted inappropriately after an association of Orthodox schools accused it of leaving young girls "traumatised" following a school inspection.
The National Association of Jewish Orthodox Schools (NAJOS) said it was "appalled" at reports that inspectors has asked female students how babies are made and whether they knew that two men could marry.
Last year the National Secular Society uncovered evidence of questions on human reproduction being censored on GCSE science exam papers at Yesodey Hatorah – an Orthodox Jewish state secondary girls' school in London.
A NAJOS spokesperson told Jewish News that three schools had received surprise inspections in recent weeks, including a school in Manchester, where most of the complaints are believed to have originated.
NAJOS expressed "grave concerns" after other headteachers reported that girls "felt bullied into answering inspectors' questions" and the pupils and staff were left feeling "traumatised and ashamed".
In a statement the Association said: "Ofsted inspectors have been asking pupils inappropriate and challenging questions, many of which fall outside the religious ethos and principles at orthodox Jewish faith schools."
However Ofsted's Chief Operating Officer HMI Matthew Coffey denied the charge of inappropriate questioning, saying: "Inspectors must ask questions which probe the extent to which pupils are prepared for the next stage in their education, or employment, or for life in modern Britain."
He added: "I am sorry if these questions seemed insensitive or offensive. Inspectors use age-appropriate questions to test children's understanding and tolerance of lifestyles different to their own."
"Ofsted is not looking for answers to questions which are contrary to their faith, simply that they are able to express views which are neither intolerant nor discriminatory towards others. This is vital if we are to make sure young people are ready for life in modern Britain."
Jonathan Rabson, director of NAJOS said the organisation feared Ofsted's approach suggests a "shift in policy towards faith schools". In a letter to both Ofsted and Nicky Morgan, Secretary of State for Education, the organisation argued that Jewish were schools are being "disproportionally targeted" and that "Jewish values and ethos are being questioned by inspectors in a climate of hostility designed to unsettle the pupils at member schools".
However, Stephen Evans, National Secular Society campaigns manager, said it was an encouraging sign that children's independent interests were at last being given the recognition they deserve.
"Particularly in religious schools, the rights of the individual can get lost in the forced homogeneity of 'community' and 'cultural' identities – and for too long, the education some young people receive has been compromised by religious communities enforcing their own values and traditions on children", said Mr Evans.
He said it was particularly important that young people's sexual and reproductive health rights aren't compromised when scientific facts are incompatible with the ethos of particular schools.
"Children are entitled to be taught about these issues as part of a broad and balanced education. A failure to do so leaves them ill-equipped for life outside of a religious community. That should not be allowed to happen in any British schools".
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)
