Humanists UK responds to faith school cap and special academies consultation
Publisher: In-Sight Publishing
Publisher Founding: September 1, 2014
Publisher Location: Fort Langley, Township of Langley, British Columbia, Canada
Publication: Freethought Newswire
Original Link: https://humanists.uk/2024/06/20/humanists-uk-responds-to-faith-school-cap-and-special-academies-consultation/
Publication Date: June 20, 2024
Organization: Humanists UK
Organization Description: Humanists UK is the operating name of the British Humanist Association. We are a charitable company (no. 228781), formed in 1896 and incorporated in 1928, and registered in England and Wales. Our governing document is our Articles of Association, which can be viewed here.
The Department for Education’s (DfE) consultation on lifting the 50% cap on faith school admissions for new and existing faith free schools, and to allow the opening of faith-designated special academies for the first time, closes today (20 June). In its consultation response Humanists UK, who have been leading the campaignagainst the plans, has condemned the proposals as a ‘step backwards for social cohesion’ which would ‘significantly undermine the principles of inclusivity which all governments should be striving to increase.’
The consultation was launched under the Conservative Government and the lifting of the 50% cap is something the party has committed to in its manifesto. But in spite of a general election being called, the consultation is continuing anyway. If Labour forms the next Government, it will then need to decide how best to respond to it.
Since 2007, all new Academies (known as Free Schools) with a religious character have been limited to selecting 50% of pupils on the basis of faith. But if the plans went ahead all state-funded faith free schools in England would be able to discriminate on religious grounds in 100% of pupil admissions. Humanists UK strongly opposes all discrimination in the state school system and highlighted how the cap ‘has had a demonstrable positive impact on improving inclusivity in faith free schools.’
Special educational needs schools with a faith designation would also be allowed to open for the first time should the proposals be approved. While these would not be able to discriminate in their admissions process, they would be able to teach religious education (RE) and relationships and sex education (RSE) and carry out collective worship in accordance with their faith. Faith-based discrimination regarding employment would also be permitted. In its consultation response Humanists UK told the DfE that it is ‘particularly important’ that pupils with special educational needs have access to high-quality and balanced education that is free of religious bias – something they would not get at a faith-designated special academy.
Humanists UK’s Education Campaigns Manager Lewis Young said:
‘The proposals to lift the 50% cap on faith school admissions and allow 100% religious discrimination in pupil intake in these schools would be a huge step backwards for religious, social, and ethnic integration. We’re also concerned about allowing faith special schools and the impact that faith-based carveouts of religious and relationships and sex education would have on children and young people with special educational needs.
‘The proposals and the consultation responses will be analysed and decided on by the next government. We hope that whoever is in office after 4 July will listen to the concerns raised by Humanists UK and drop these proposals once and for all.’
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