No more faith schools

No more faith schools

Page 170 of 310: We need inclusive schools free from religious discrimination, privilege or control.

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.

  • 58% of Brits oppose faith schools and only 30% say they have "no objection" to faith schools being funded by the state.
  • 72% of voters, including 68% of Christians, oppose state funded schools being allowed to discriminate against prospective pupils on religious grounds in their admissions policy.

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.

  • Other representatives

    We also have template letters to write to your Members of the Scottish or Welsh Parliaments or Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly.

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

Success! Gwynedd Council rethinks plan to impose church school on community

Posted: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 15:59

Plans for a new 'super school' in Bala to have a religious designation have been shelved following widespread opposition to the proposal.

In January the National Secular Society wrote to Gwynedd Council, urging it to protect community school provision and respect the wishes of non-religious parents.

At a meeting of Gwynedd Council's Cabinet on Tuesday the decision was made to restart the consultation process with the governing bodies of local schools over abandoning the proposal to establish a Church in Wales school in the town of Bala.

The decision to rethink the religious status of the school follows strong local opposition from councillors, parents and governors of existing schools that would be closed to make way for the new school.

In a report to Gwynedd Council's Cabinet ahead of the meeting it was made clear that the Actions of the Church in Wales during the consultation process has led to a "lack of confidence" in the partnership between the Diocese and the Governing Bodies. The report cited unease amongst Governors and Local Members that the Church was "mainly motivated by safeguarding the interests of Church resources".

A majority of governors at one local school, Ysgol Y Berwyn, refused to support any governing body established if it serves a church school and called on the Council to "review the status of the new school with the desire to have a community school that is not formally connected to any specific religious body."

Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Gareth Thomas said a "loss of trust between church and community" represented a substantial change that meant the Council needed to rethink their plans.

Gwynedd Council chairman and Bala Cllr Dilwyn Morgan welcomed the Council's decision.

"I cannot of course preempt the outcome of that consultation but considering a petition of 1,022 was organised asking for a new consultation then hopefully the voice of the community will be loud enough."

"Hopefully now we can make the education of our children a priority", he said.

Cllr Morgan had previously called on Church in Wales to "step back gracefully" and allow a new school to have a community status rather than be given any religious status.

Stephen Evans, National Secular Society campaigns director, commented. "Schools are at the centre of our communities and it's totally inappropriate to impose church schools, paid for from public funds, on communities that don't want them. We hope Gwynedd will now move forward with a truly inclusive community school that everyone can get behind, irrespective of their religious outlook.

"In this day and age religious schools simply aren't able to serve religiously diverse and increasing non-religious local communities."

Liam Neeson backs integrated education in Northern Ireland

Posted: Thu, 9 Feb 2017 13:00

Actor Liam Neeson has released a video message calling for more integrated schools in Northern Ireland.

The appeal was launched for the 'Integrate My School' campaign, which offers support for parents and schools on how to begin the transformation process.

The campaign says that transforming a school means that it "will welcome children from Protestant and Catholic backgrounds, as well as those of other faiths and none. For many, the transition to integrated status is a natural step, as the school may well already attract children from different religious and cultural backgrounds."

"Integrated education can help your child to have more friends from different backgrounds, develop more positive social attitudes and provide new educational, social and cultural experiences."

A majority of parents "already support the idea of integrated education", the campaign notes.

"The process of becoming an integrated school is called transformation, and by signing a petition to register your support, you have the power to trigger this process within your school."

In his video appeal Neeson asked: "As Northern Ireland moves forward from division, who do we look to for a future we can share?

"So why continue to educate them apart. Different religions, different backgrounds, different schools. There is another way. Protestants and Catholics, other beliefs and none, learning and working together every day.

"Most people agree that educating children together is a better way forward for our society. It's time to turn our aspiration into reality."

He appealed to parents to "help being the process of integrating your school".

The BBC reported that just 7% of Northern Ireland's school pupils are educated in integrated schools.

In January the National Secular Society welcomed proposals from Kellie Armstrong MLA aimed at simplifying the transformation process and boosting the number of integrated schools.

Campaigns director Stephen Evans said, "I hope this issue is near the top of the political agenda following the election in March. Theresa May should take note of the clamour to integrate schools in Northern Ireland, as she continues to push more religiously selective faith schools in England."

More information

Research and reports