Bids to set up creationist Free Schools have been rejected by the Department for Education (DfE). In particular, the DfE have turned down a high-profile bid from Sheffield Christian Free School, which would have been affiliated to the Christian Schools’ Trust (CST) network of largely creationist private schools. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed the news; however, at least 15 other proposals to open ‘faith’ schools in 2013 have advanced to the interview stage.
Considering different creationist bids:
• Creationist Everyday Champions Church’s bid to establish Exemplar Academy appears to have been withdrawn, with the website having vanished prior to the application deadline.
• The fate of other proposals from CST schools such as Destiny Christian School in Bedford and Barnsley Christian School is unknown, but it is unlikely that they were successful.
• Similarly, it is unknown whether CofE school Clayton Academy, proposed by creationist Jesmond Parish Church – who have strong links to the Christian Institute – has progressed.
• Interestingly, creationism is not given as a cause for Sheffield Christian Free School’s rejection, in contrast to when Everyday Champions Academy’s bid was rejected last year.
In terms of other faith-based bids:
• 5 CofE schools have gone to interview: Bradford Girls' Grammar School; Fulham Boys School; Bristol Cathedral Choir Primary School; University Cathedral School, Chester; and St Mary's Hampton Church of England Primary School, Richmond. Proposals for an Anglican school in St Albans have been put back to 2014.
• 1 Greek Orthodox proposal, St Andrew The Apostle Greek Orthodox School in Trent Park, has likewise progressed.
• 5 other Christian proposals have also gained interviews: Sevenoaks Christian School; Durham Free School; Oasis Community School, Southwark; Kings School, Hove; and Tyndale Community School, Oxford. The Proposed Priorslee School plan is also progressing, although as the impetus for that is from the local authority, it is unclear as to what extent that is occurring within the Free School schedule. Oasis Southwater Community School (with Horsham Churches Together) was withdrawn for 2013 and Weston-super-Mare Christian Academy was rejected; both will now be proposed in 2014.
• 3 Jewish proposals: Leeds Jewish Free School ; South London Jewish Primary School, Wandsworth; and The New Jewish Primary School Finchley have gained interviews.
• 1 Sikh proposal, Leicester Sikh School, has also gained an interview.
In addition, 3 Steiner groups and 1 Maharishi proposal have progressed. The fate of other proposals is unknown. The BHA believes it has only been able to identify about one-third of all proposals.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘We welcome the government’s continuing opposition to proposed creationist schools, and are glad to see that no such proposals have been accepted. We hope that the new rules introduced in January to preclude the teaching of pseudoscience should discourage groups from even applying next year.
‘However, we remain concerned at the number and diversity of faith-based proposals for Free Schools. The speed with which new “faith” schools are opening continues to accelerate. The BHA is not opposed to Free Schools, but worries that they have the potential to teach skewed curricula from unqualified teachers.’
Author Archive for info@humanism.org.uk
Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove has ordered an investigation into whether or not the Catholic Education Service (CES) has broken laws against political balance in encouraging secondary school pupils to sign a petition against same sex marriage. The British Humanist Association (BHA), which was the first organisation to suggest that this law had been broken, has welcomed the news.
PinkNews.co.uk has reported a spokesperson for the Department for Education as saying that: ‘Schools have a responsibility under law to ensure children are insulated from political activity and campaigning in the classroom. While ‘faith’ schools, rightly, have the freedom to teach about sexual relations and marriage in the context of their own religion, that should not extend to political campaigning.
‘Officials are looking into this as the Education Secretary and other ministers are anxious to establish the full facts of this case and will be meeting representatives of the Catholic Education Service shortly.’
The BHA believes that sections 406-7 of the Education Act 1996, regarding political indoctrination and requirement for balance, and section 149 of the Equality Act 2011, regarding public sector equality duty may have been broken. The BHA has expressed interest in taking a legal case on this matter, and is seeking a pupil to assist in this.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented: ‘On Thursday we wrote to Michael Gove and called for just such an investigation. We are glad to see that this is now occurring.
‘Any gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender pupil at a school whose head declares that same sex marriage and civil partnerships are unnatural is obviously going to feel discriminated against and trapped. Action to remedy this situation cannot come soon enough.’
However, Richy did have a note of caution: ‘The BHA believes that what has been done here is likely to have broken the Equality Act, as well as laws against political indoctrination. The Government’s statement suggests that only the latter area is being considered, which unfortunately fits with past behaviour. We hope that the Government will fully consider both areas of legislation.’
PinkNews.co.uk has reported a spokesperson for the Department for Education as saying that: ‘Schools have a responsibility under law to ensure children are insulated from political activity and campaigning in the classroom. While ‘faith’ schools, rightly, have the freedom to teach about sexual relations and marriage in the context of their own religion, that should not extend to political campaigning.
‘Officials are looking into this as the Education Secretary and other ministers are anxious to establish the full facts of this case and will be meeting representatives of the Catholic Education Service shortly.’
The BHA believes that sections 406-7 of the Education Act 1996, regarding political indoctrination and requirement for balance, and section 149 of the Equality Act 2011, regarding public sector equality duty may have been broken. The BHA has expressed interest in taking a legal case on this matter, and is seeking a pupil to assist in this.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented: ‘On Thursday we wrote to Michael Gove and called for just such an investigation. We are glad to see that this is now occurring.
‘Any gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender pupil at a school whose head declares that same sex marriage and civil partnerships are unnatural is obviously going to feel discriminated against and trapped. Action to remedy this situation cannot come soon enough.’
However, Richy did have a note of caution: ‘The BHA believes that what has been done here is likely to have broken the Equality Act, as well as laws against political indoctrination. The Government’s statement suggests that only the latter area is being considered, which unfortunately fits with past behaviour. We hope that the Government will fully consider both areas of legislation.’
Every single ‘faith’ school proposed to be fast-tracked through the opening process without competition in the last five years was approved. This 100% success rate contrasts with the results of other schools trying to open outside of competition, when fewer than half of proposals were successful. When ‘faith’ schools faced competition from non-religious proposals, barely one-third succeeded. These are the main findings of a new report published today by the British Humanist Association (BHA), following on from a series of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted to the Department for Education.
The report also found that almost two-thirds of the state-maintained ‘faith’ schools to open in the last five years have done so outside of competition, whilst for schools without a religious character, the number is less than one in six. The BHA says that the findings reveal a biased system, in which religious organisations are uniquely privileged and local democracy is subverted.
The report examines the period from May 2007 (when new rules were established) through to February 2012 (when they were amended), and also looks at school closures. Other findings of the report include:
• 23% (23/101) of mainstream school proposals through competition were faith-based, versus 55% (17/31) of maintained proposals outside of competition. 58% (23/40) of faith-based proposals were in competition, versus 85% (78/92) of other proposals.
• The Catholic Church is a particular offender when it comes to avoiding competitions. They submitted only one bid for a school in competition – compared with 14 by the Church of England – whereas both groups had the same number of bids to open schools outside of competition.
• Many schools are closing and re-opening to acquire a religious character, but no schools are doing so to lose one and become inclusive. And no schools lost a religious character through amalgamation, but 32 without a religious character gained one.
Recently the BHA announced that it is to take on a legal case against just such proposals for state-funded Catholic schools in Richmond – challenging the attempt of the Council to open a ‘faith’ school without competition under new rules introduced by the Education Act 2011 on 1 February.
BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented, ‘If further proof were needed that the system is tilted in favour of state-funded religious schools which discriminate in their admissions and against inclusive schools, this is it. When asked, the public do not want religious schools – they want more inclusive schools. But religious organisations continue to open schools by the back door, collaborating with local authorities to avoid competition entirely. This option has been phenomenally successful, and as a result, the proportion of all schools that have a religious character is rising alarmingly fast. Taken together with the preference shown in government guidance for community schools to close rather than religious ones, we see a system which militates against inclusion.
‘We hope that our legal case in Richmond will challenge this practice. We believe the system of school organisation should instead be promoting new schools that are inclusive of all pupils and staff, regardless of their religion or belief.’
The report also found that almost two-thirds of the state-maintained ‘faith’ schools to open in the last five years have done so outside of competition, whilst for schools without a religious character, the number is less than one in six. The BHA says that the findings reveal a biased system, in which religious organisations are uniquely privileged and local democracy is subverted.
The report examines the period from May 2007 (when new rules were established) through to February 2012 (when they were amended), and also looks at school closures. Other findings of the report include:
• 23% (23/101) of mainstream school proposals through competition were faith-based, versus 55% (17/31) of maintained proposals outside of competition. 58% (23/40) of faith-based proposals were in competition, versus 85% (78/92) of other proposals.
• The Catholic Church is a particular offender when it comes to avoiding competitions. They submitted only one bid for a school in competition – compared with 14 by the Church of England – whereas both groups had the same number of bids to open schools outside of competition.
• Many schools are closing and re-opening to acquire a religious character, but no schools are doing so to lose one and become inclusive. And no schools lost a religious character through amalgamation, but 32 without a religious character gained one.
Recently the BHA announced that it is to take on a legal case against just such proposals for state-funded Catholic schools in Richmond – challenging the attempt of the Council to open a ‘faith’ school without competition under new rules introduced by the Education Act 2011 on 1 February.
BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented, ‘If further proof were needed that the system is tilted in favour of state-funded religious schools which discriminate in their admissions and against inclusive schools, this is it. When asked, the public do not want religious schools – they want more inclusive schools. But religious organisations continue to open schools by the back door, collaborating with local authorities to avoid competition entirely. This option has been phenomenally successful, and as a result, the proportion of all schools that have a religious character is rising alarmingly fast. Taken together with the preference shown in government guidance for community schools to close rather than religious ones, we see a system which militates against inclusion.
‘We hope that our legal case in Richmond will challenge this practice. We believe the system of school organisation should instead be promoting new schools that are inclusive of all pupils and staff, regardless of their religion or belief.’
Robin Ince captivates the audience presenting the BHA’s 2012 Voltaire Lecture on ‘The Importance of Being Interested’
The Welsh government have today announced that they are investigating whether the Catholic Education Service for England and Wales (CES) broke laws on equality and against political indoctrination. The British Humanist Association (BHA) wrote earlier to both Welsh Education Minister Leighton Andrews and Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove to address the matter, and has welcomed the announcement.
Last month, the CES wrote to all Catholic secondary schools and asked them to draw attention to a letter against same sex marriage from the Archbishops of Westminster and Southwark which was read out at Sunday Mass on 11 March. The CES also asked schools to ‘draw attention’ to pupils as young as 11, a petition against same sex marriage from the Coalition for Marriage.
The story was initially reported yesterday on PinkNews.co.uk, with the BHA being the first to suggest that the laws on political balance might have been broken. The BHA announced that it is looking for a pupil at a Catholic secondary school to take a legal case forward, and today Education Campaigner Richy Thompson wrote an article for Pink News appealing for such a student.
The Catholic Education Service, meanwhile, has indicated that it does not see that it has broken the law, and intends to continue to promote the petition to over-16 year olds.
A Welsh government spokesperson has now told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme that ‘The education minister has seen the press stories and has asked officials to investigate. All schools must ensure issues are taught in a way that does not subject pupils to discrimination.’
Responding to the latest news, Mr Thompson commented, ‘We welcome the announcement that the Welsh government are investigating any potential law-breaking, and will offer to work with them on this matter. In the meantime, we are still interested in taking on a legal case, and hope to find a pupil who is willing to work with us on this.
‘It is undoubtedly the case that the Catholic Education Service’s actions have victimised many pupils. We do not think such behaviour is an acceptable part of society.’
Last month, the CES wrote to all Catholic secondary schools and asked them to draw attention to a letter against same sex marriage from the Archbishops of Westminster and Southwark which was read out at Sunday Mass on 11 March. The CES also asked schools to ‘draw attention’ to pupils as young as 11, a petition against same sex marriage from the Coalition for Marriage.
The story was initially reported yesterday on PinkNews.co.uk, with the BHA being the first to suggest that the laws on political balance might have been broken. The BHA announced that it is looking for a pupil at a Catholic secondary school to take a legal case forward, and today Education Campaigner Richy Thompson wrote an article for Pink News appealing for such a student.
The Catholic Education Service, meanwhile, has indicated that it does not see that it has broken the law, and intends to continue to promote the petition to over-16 year olds.
A Welsh government spokesperson has now told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme that ‘The education minister has seen the press stories and has asked officials to investigate. All schools must ensure issues are taught in a way that does not subject pupils to discrimination.’
Responding to the latest news, Mr Thompson commented, ‘We welcome the announcement that the Welsh government are investigating any potential law-breaking, and will offer to work with them on this matter. In the meantime, we are still interested in taking on a legal case, and hope to find a pupil who is willing to work with us on this.
‘It is undoubtedly the case that the Catholic Education Service’s actions have victimised many pupils. We do not think such behaviour is an acceptable part of society.’
The Catholic Education Service (CES) has written to every state-funded Catholic secondary school in England and Wales and asked them to urge pupils to sign a petition against same sex marriage, it has been reported today in PinkNews.co.uk. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has branded the revelation as ‘absolutely outrageous’, and believes that, if accurate, the CES has likely broken multiple laws in pushing such a petition in pupils.
Last month, the CES wrote to all Catholic secondary schools and asked them to draw attention to a letter against same sex marriage from the Archbishops of Westminster and Southwark which was read out at Sunday Mass on 11 March. The CES also asked schools to ‘draw attention’ to pupils as young as 11, a petition against same sex marriage from the Coalition for Marriage.
Pink News’s article highlights that the CES’s actions likely broke the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination against pupils based on their sexual orientation. The BHA believe the CES’s actions likely also break sections 406-7 of the Education Act 1996, which forbids ‘the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject in the school’, and requires balanced treatment of political issues. This law was successfully used in 2007 to stop schools showing Al Gore’s climate change film, An Inconvenient Truth, without also explaining scientific errors in the film.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘This action by the Catholic Education Service is absolutely outrageous. Not only might this break equalities legislation, it also breaks laws against political partisanship. If any pupil at one of the schools concerned is interested in challenging this practice at law, we urge them to get in touch with us.’
Last month, the CES wrote to all Catholic secondary schools and asked them to draw attention to a letter against same sex marriage from the Archbishops of Westminster and Southwark which was read out at Sunday Mass on 11 March. The CES also asked schools to ‘draw attention’ to pupils as young as 11, a petition against same sex marriage from the Coalition for Marriage.
Pink News’s article highlights that the CES’s actions likely broke the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination against pupils based on their sexual orientation. The BHA believe the CES’s actions likely also break sections 406-7 of the Education Act 1996, which forbids ‘the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject in the school’, and requires balanced treatment of political issues. This law was successfully used in 2007 to stop schools showing Al Gore’s climate change film, An Inconvenient Truth, without also explaining scientific errors in the film.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘This action by the Catholic Education Service is absolutely outrageous. Not only might this break equalities legislation, it also breaks laws against political partisanship. If any pupil at one of the schools concerned is interested in challenging this practice at law, we urge them to get in touch with us.’
We might not be able to see the future, but that won’t stop us from exploring it
This weekend saw the Methodist Church hold a meeting aimed at ‘re-invigorat[ing] its engagement with the education sector’. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has expressed dismay at the related Education Committee Report with its calls for expansion and increasing evangelisation of Methodist schools, and expressed concern at the Department for Education’s (DfE’s) role in instigating this development.
Earlier this year, following the passage of the Education Act, the DfE gained the power to force failing schools to convert schools to Academy status. Three Methodist schools were announced as amongst the schools to be forced. As a consequence of this, the Methodist Church was required by the DfE to set up an Academy umbrella, the Methodist Academies and Schools Trust (MAST), or else lose control of its schools that become Academies.
Now that MAST has been established, the Church has identified that ‘the present time offers a particular opportunity for the Methodist Church, alone or in partnership with others, to extend that provision [of faith-based schools]’:
• Dr John Barrett, Chair of the Church’s Education Commission, is quoted as saying that ‘we have an amazing opportunity, both within the schools that we already run, and with the potential of providing more, either on our own or in partnership with other Churches.’
• The report discusses ‘offering greater support to Methodists who work in the education sector and appointing more chaplains to further education. The report also recommends that the Church extends its commitment by opening more state-funded schools, especially in areas of socio-economic deprivation.’
• On secularism, the report states that ‘Critics sometimes talk of the danger of religious indoctrination yet the real danger of indoctrination lies in permitting the young to surrender their thinking entirely to the many secular and materialistic pressures that come from society.’
• The report also states that ‘Some within the Methodist Church have argued to end our involvement with faith-based schools on the grounds that they generate a privileged elite within the national system and take a disproportionate amount of the Church’s attention when it should be focusing on the needs of the poorest community schools… we find it hard to understand how promoting Christianity within all schools will be assisted by removing ”the privilege” of greater contact with Methodism and therefore with Christianity in 79 schools.’
The Chief Education Officer of the Church of England is a member of the Education Commission that developed the report, which also states that the Church of England is now deemed as speaking for the Methodist Church in meetings with government.
BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson said, ‘The Methodist Church has in the past been an advocate of more inclusive schools, including being part of the consensus against compulsory Christian worship in schools. The demise of this inclusive approach is deeply saddening. To see the Methodist Church falling into line behind the Church of England in seeing the latest reforms as an opportunity for a land-grab within the state-funded system marks their further decline as a force for reform and dissent within England. It seems they are increasingly happy to let the established church speak for them, and their own line is increasingly being replaced with that of the Church of England. Methodists are due to vote on this report when they meet at their conference this summer. We hope they will reject it, but fear they will not.’
Earlier this year, following the passage of the Education Act, the DfE gained the power to force failing schools to convert schools to Academy status. Three Methodist schools were announced as amongst the schools to be forced. As a consequence of this, the Methodist Church was required by the DfE to set up an Academy umbrella, the Methodist Academies and Schools Trust (MAST), or else lose control of its schools that become Academies.
Now that MAST has been established, the Church has identified that ‘the present time offers a particular opportunity for the Methodist Church, alone or in partnership with others, to extend that provision [of faith-based schools]’:
• Dr John Barrett, Chair of the Church’s Education Commission, is quoted as saying that ‘we have an amazing opportunity, both within the schools that we already run, and with the potential of providing more, either on our own or in partnership with other Churches.’
• The report discusses ‘offering greater support to Methodists who work in the education sector and appointing more chaplains to further education. The report also recommends that the Church extends its commitment by opening more state-funded schools, especially in areas of socio-economic deprivation.’
• On secularism, the report states that ‘Critics sometimes talk of the danger of religious indoctrination yet the real danger of indoctrination lies in permitting the young to surrender their thinking entirely to the many secular and materialistic pressures that come from society.’
• The report also states that ‘Some within the Methodist Church have argued to end our involvement with faith-based schools on the grounds that they generate a privileged elite within the national system and take a disproportionate amount of the Church’s attention when it should be focusing on the needs of the poorest community schools… we find it hard to understand how promoting Christianity within all schools will be assisted by removing ”the privilege” of greater contact with Methodism and therefore with Christianity in 79 schools.’
The Chief Education Officer of the Church of England is a member of the Education Commission that developed the report, which also states that the Church of England is now deemed as speaking for the Methodist Church in meetings with government.
BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson said, ‘The Methodist Church has in the past been an advocate of more inclusive schools, including being part of the consensus against compulsory Christian worship in schools. The demise of this inclusive approach is deeply saddening. To see the Methodist Church falling into line behind the Church of England in seeing the latest reforms as an opportunity for a land-grab within the state-funded system marks their further decline as a force for reform and dissent within England. It seems they are increasingly happy to let the established church speak for them, and their own line is increasingly being replaced with that of the Church of England. Methodists are due to vote on this report when they meet at their conference this summer. We hope they will reject it, but fear they will not.’
A report from a cross-party parliamentary Christian group claims that the rights of gay people take precedence over those of Christians. Following an inquiry hearing evidence from 30 Christian groups it criticises equalities legislation stating that the law relegates the rights of Christians below those of others.
The report, entitled Clearing the Ground, states: ‘Critically, early indications from court judgments are that sexual orientation takes precedence and religious belief is required to adapt in the light of this. We see this as an unacceptable and unsustainable situation.’ Particularly scathing of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the inquiry heard submissions saying that the EHRC had been ‘hijacked’ by secularists to the extent that it was now ‘ideologically biased’ against religion. The report condemns the commission for inviting humanist groups with ‘tiny’ memberships to discussions intended for faith groups, saying the policy effectively shut down formal consultations with religious organisations.
Pavan Dhaliwal, BHA Head of Public Affairs, commented ‘The findings of this report are wholly ridiculous and not at all grounded in any reality. A largely fallacious narrative has been constructed around the notion that Christian and religious groups are under threat and being persecuted. Nor has the EHRC been hijacked. This is a country in which the state allows for exemptions for religious groups in equality laws; funds ‘faith’ schools and allows discriminatory practice within those settings; and reserves places for Bishops in the House of Lords. The report presents a gay rights versus religious rights battle citing recent cases as examples of the supposed relegation of Christian rights. The right to your religious or non-religious beliefs is absolute; it is legitimate for the right to act on those beliefs to be restrained so that the rights of others are not violated. Our equality law protects religious people on those grounds in exactly the same way that it protects gay people – but no more than that.
‘The vast majority of people in Britain are not members of any local church, religious group or community, and so to lay such emphasis on religious identities as being the ones most important or ones which should be exempt from equality legislation is detrimental to equal and fair society.’
The report, entitled Clearing the Ground, states: ‘Critically, early indications from court judgments are that sexual orientation takes precedence and religious belief is required to adapt in the light of this. We see this as an unacceptable and unsustainable situation.’ Particularly scathing of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the inquiry heard submissions saying that the EHRC had been ‘hijacked’ by secularists to the extent that it was now ‘ideologically biased’ against religion. The report condemns the commission for inviting humanist groups with ‘tiny’ memberships to discussions intended for faith groups, saying the policy effectively shut down formal consultations with religious organisations.
Pavan Dhaliwal, BHA Head of Public Affairs, commented ‘The findings of this report are wholly ridiculous and not at all grounded in any reality. A largely fallacious narrative has been constructed around the notion that Christian and religious groups are under threat and being persecuted. Nor has the EHRC been hijacked. This is a country in which the state allows for exemptions for religious groups in equality laws; funds ‘faith’ schools and allows discriminatory practice within those settings; and reserves places for Bishops in the House of Lords. The report presents a gay rights versus religious rights battle citing recent cases as examples of the supposed relegation of Christian rights. The right to your religious or non-religious beliefs is absolute; it is legitimate for the right to act on those beliefs to be restrained so that the rights of others are not violated. Our equality law protects religious people on those grounds in exactly the same way that it protects gay people – but no more than that.
‘The vast majority of people in Britain are not members of any local church, religious group or community, and so to lay such emphasis on religious identities as being the ones most important or ones which should be exempt from equality legislation is detrimental to equal and fair society.’
Today is the deadline for submitting a bid to open a Free School in 2013, as part of the ‘third wave’ of applications. 337 groups have indicated to the New Schools Network that they intend to bid. The British Humanist Association has been able to identify 38 proposals for ‘faith’ or pseudoscientific schools, out of 99 identified in total.
Free Schools are a type of Academy, used to refer to Academies that are brand new state schools (as opposed to those converting from the maintained school sector). Free Schools and Academies have more freedoms than other types of ‘faith’ school. They do not need to follow the National Curriculum, can teach faith-based RE, and teachers they employ do not need to have qualified teacher status. They can use a religious test in selecting all teaching staff, and are able to religiously discriminate in admissions (though for Free Schools, only for up to 50% of the intake).
In addition, the government has recently published the first model funding agreements for University Technical Colleges (UTCs) and Studio schools – two other types of Academy. These types of schools cannot register with a religious character, but there is nothing to stop them from having a 'faith ethos'. Like Free Schools, they are only able to select up to 50% of their intake on grounds of faith. Like Academies, but unlike Free Schools, there is nothing precluding these schools from teaching creationism or other pseudoscience.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘We’ve been able to identify a large number of faith-based bids, but we speculate that there may be as many as 100 groups applying to set up ‘faith’ or pseudoscientific Free Schools.
‘We are already working with local campaigners to oppose a number of these proposals, and will continue to keep pressure up on the Department for Education (DfE) to vigorously scrutinise and if need be reject bids.’
Free Schools are a type of Academy, used to refer to Academies that are brand new state schools (as opposed to those converting from the maintained school sector). Free Schools and Academies have more freedoms than other types of ‘faith’ school. They do not need to follow the National Curriculum, can teach faith-based RE, and teachers they employ do not need to have qualified teacher status. They can use a religious test in selecting all teaching staff, and are able to religiously discriminate in admissions (though for Free Schools, only for up to 50% of the intake).
In addition, the government has recently published the first model funding agreements for University Technical Colleges (UTCs) and Studio schools – two other types of Academy. These types of schools cannot register with a religious character, but there is nothing to stop them from having a 'faith ethos'. Like Free Schools, they are only able to select up to 50% of their intake on grounds of faith. Like Academies, but unlike Free Schools, there is nothing precluding these schools from teaching creationism or other pseudoscience.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘We’ve been able to identify a large number of faith-based bids, but we speculate that there may be as many as 100 groups applying to set up ‘faith’ or pseudoscientific Free Schools.
‘We are already working with local campaigners to oppose a number of these proposals, and will continue to keep pressure up on the Department for Education (DfE) to vigorously scrutinise and if need be reject bids.’
The BHA has welcomed the launch of a new All Party Parliamentary Group that will support education about religious and non-religious beliefs in English and Welsh schools.
The group will aim to ensure ‘every young person experiences a personally inspiring and academically rigorous education in religious and non-religious worldviews.’
The BHA is a member of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales, which is supporting the new parliamentary group.
Andrew Copson, BHA Chief Executive said, ‘One of the greatest preventatives of indoctrination is a broad syllabus of learning about all the different religious and non-religious beliefs that exist in today’s world. For this reason, as well as the opportunity it gives to consider philosophical and fundamental questions, the BHA has long supported teaching about religious and non-religious beliefs in all schools. Much teaching of RE is still done by unqualified non-specialists in accordance with syllabuses that are far from ideal. We hope that this new parliamentary group will help to bring RE in all schools up to the level of the very best, where it is taught by qualified teachers and embraces a full range of human beliefs, including humanist ones, in a way that encourages critical engagement with those beliefs.
Under the Education Reform Act 1988, RE is not part of the National Curriculum, but is determined at local authority level for schools under their control. The local syllabuses produced are variable in their scope and quality. The BHA campaigns for reform of RE that ensures the subject is taught with inclusiveness, impartiality, objectivity, fairness, balance and relevance.
The group will aim to ensure ‘every young person experiences a personally inspiring and academically rigorous education in religious and non-religious worldviews.’
The BHA is a member of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales, which is supporting the new parliamentary group.
Andrew Copson, BHA Chief Executive said, ‘One of the greatest preventatives of indoctrination is a broad syllabus of learning about all the different religious and non-religious beliefs that exist in today’s world. For this reason, as well as the opportunity it gives to consider philosophical and fundamental questions, the BHA has long supported teaching about religious and non-religious beliefs in all schools. Much teaching of RE is still done by unqualified non-specialists in accordance with syllabuses that are far from ideal. We hope that this new parliamentary group will help to bring RE in all schools up to the level of the very best, where it is taught by qualified teachers and embraces a full range of human beliefs, including humanist ones, in a way that encourages critical engagement with those beliefs.
Under the Education Reform Act 1988, RE is not part of the National Curriculum, but is determined at local authority level for schools under their control. The local syllabuses produced are variable in their scope and quality. The BHA campaigns for reform of RE that ensures the subject is taught with inclusiveness, impartiality, objectivity, fairness, balance and relevance.
Update: On 22 February we learned that the quote from Michael Gove in the Observer article was somewhat taken out of context. The full quote shows that Mr Gove does appreciate that delivery of the curriculum is covered by the Equality Act 2010. In light of this, we wish to retract our comment below that Mr Gove had got this point wrong.
However, we are still concerned that Mr Gove's full response demonstrates insufficient pro-activeness on the part of his Department in tackling this important issue.
Original story:
Michael Gove ‘wrong’ that ‘faith’ schools did not discriminate against gay pupils
Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove is ‘wrong’ that Roman Catholic schools in Lancashire did not discriminate against homosexual pupils, the British Humanist Association (BHA) has said today.
At the weekend it was reported in the Guardian that the Trades Union Congress (TUC) had challenged Mr Gove about homophobic material that had been distributed at the schools in 2010. Michael Gove responded that:
The education provisions of the Equality Act 2010 which prohibit discrimination against individuals based on their protected characteristics (including their sexual orientation) do not extend to the content of the curriculum. Any materials used in sex and relationship education lessons, therefore, will not be subject to the discrimination provisions of the act.
The incident mirrors a recent occurrence at the Jewish Free School (JFS), which apparently presented to pupils a website on ‘curing gays’.
BHA Education Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘Michael Gove is right that the content of the curriculum is exempt from the Equality Act. However, ultimately he is wrong because how material is delivered is not exempt.
‘The distinction between content and delivery was made on purpose and does make sense – for example, certainly schools should not be banned from using anti-Semitic Nazi propaganda as teaching materials. However, the teacher must present the materials in such a way as to make clear that anti-Semitism is not an acceptable view, and put the propaganda in its proper historical context.
‘Equally, in this case, it could be okay for the teachers to present homophobic material, so long as the delivery is in a manner as to explain why these views are unacceptable – this does not appear to have happened here. In fact, one could seriously question the educational merit of presenting this material to pupils in the first place. This is why Mr Gove has got things wrong.’
Notes
For further comment or information, please contact Richy Thompson on 020 7462 4993.
Read section 89 of the Equality Act 2010, which exempts content of curriculum: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/89
Read section 89’s explanatory notes, which make clear that delivery is not exempt: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/notes/division/3/6/1/6
Read pages 15-16 of the Equality Act 2010 Advice for School Leaders, School Staff, Governing Bodies and Local Authorities, on sexual orientation and religion and belief, which in the BHA’s opinion is not sufficiently clear on this matter: http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/e/equality%20act%20guidance%20december%202011.pdf
Read page 3 of the Catholic Education Service for England and Wales’s equally ambiguous Equality Act 2010 – Guidance Note, on curriculum: http://www.cesew.org.uk/temp/EQUALITYspACTsp2010sp%96spGUIDANCEspNOTEspPROVISIONSspRELATINGspTOspSCHOOLSspWITHspAspRELIGIOUSspCHARACTER.pdf
Read more about the BHA’s work on Sex and Relationships Education:http://www.humanism.org.uk/campaigns/religion-and-schools/sex-and-relationships-education
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.
However, we are still concerned that Mr Gove's full response demonstrates insufficient pro-activeness on the part of his Department in tackling this important issue.
Original story:
Michael Gove ‘wrong’ that ‘faith’ schools did not discriminate against gay pupils
Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove is ‘wrong’ that Roman Catholic schools in Lancashire did not discriminate against homosexual pupils, the British Humanist Association (BHA) has said today.
At the weekend it was reported in the Guardian that the Trades Union Congress (TUC) had challenged Mr Gove about homophobic material that had been distributed at the schools in 2010. Michael Gove responded that:
The education provisions of the Equality Act 2010 which prohibit discrimination against individuals based on their protected characteristics (including their sexual orientation) do not extend to the content of the curriculum. Any materials used in sex and relationship education lessons, therefore, will not be subject to the discrimination provisions of the act.
The incident mirrors a recent occurrence at the Jewish Free School (JFS), which apparently presented to pupils a website on ‘curing gays’.
BHA Education Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘Michael Gove is right that the content of the curriculum is exempt from the Equality Act. However, ultimately he is wrong because how material is delivered is not exempt.
‘The distinction between content and delivery was made on purpose and does make sense – for example, certainly schools should not be banned from using anti-Semitic Nazi propaganda as teaching materials. However, the teacher must present the materials in such a way as to make clear that anti-Semitism is not an acceptable view, and put the propaganda in its proper historical context.
‘Equally, in this case, it could be okay for the teachers to present homophobic material, so long as the delivery is in a manner as to explain why these views are unacceptable – this does not appear to have happened here. In fact, one could seriously question the educational merit of presenting this material to pupils in the first place. This is why Mr Gove has got things wrong.’
Notes
For further comment or information, please contact Richy Thompson on 020 7462 4993.
Read section 89 of the Equality Act 2010, which exempts content of curriculum: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/89
Read section 89’s explanatory notes, which make clear that delivery is not exempt: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/notes/division/3/6/1/6
Read pages 15-16 of the Equality Act 2010 Advice for School Leaders, School Staff, Governing Bodies and Local Authorities, on sexual orientation and religion and belief, which in the BHA’s opinion is not sufficiently clear on this matter: http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/e/equality%20act%20guidance%20december%202011.pdf
Read page 3 of the Catholic Education Service for England and Wales’s equally ambiguous Equality Act 2010 – Guidance Note, on curriculum: http://www.cesew.org.uk/temp/EQUALITYspACTsp2010sp%96spGUIDANCEspNOTEspPROVISIONSspRELATINGspTOspSCHOOLSspWITHspAspRELIGIOUSspCHARACTER.pdf
Read more about the BHA’s work on Sex and Relationships Education:http://www.humanism.org.uk/campaigns/religion-and-schools/sex-and-relationships-education
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.
The British Humanist Association (BHA) welcomes the comments made by Trevor Phillips at last week’s Westminster Faith Debate, in which he came out strongly against the provision of exemptions for religious organisations on the grounds of ‘conscientious objection’.
Mr Phillips, who has chaired the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) since its inception in 2006, was one of four speakers debating the topic of Religious Identity in ‘Superdiverse’ Societies. As part of the discussion, he lambasted Catholic adoption agencies for fighting lengthy legal battles to avoid accepting homosexual couples.
Strongly backing new legislation outlawing the practice, Mr Phillips said ‘You can’t say because we decide we’re different then we need a different set of laws’. He continued, ‘To me there’s nothing different in principle with a Catholic adoption agency, or indeed Methodist adoption agency, saying the rules in our community are different and therefore the law shouldn’t apply to us. Why not then say sharia can be applied to different parts of the country? It doesn’t work’.
Mr Phillips went on to criticise the growing intolerance displayed by some religious groups towards those that do not share their beliefs, remarking ‘There is something rather odd that is happening amongst what I call the righteous brigade, that is people of good will and so on. And that is that if you don’t agree 100 per cent with them and excoriate people who have a different point of view actually somehow you are joining a bad bunch of people.’
Head of Public Affairs for the BHA, Pavan Dhaliwal, reacted positively to the EHRC chair’s comments: ‘Religious organisations are becoming increasingly adept at using their political influence to claim special privileges under law, a process which clearly threatens the fundamental principle of universal equality. Conscientious objection is regularly used as an excuse by groups who do not feel they should have to comply with anti-discrimination legislation, and often allows them to continue with outdated and unfair practices.’
Ms Dhaliwal continued, ‘The BHA is glad that Mr Phillips has chosen to speak out on this important issue, and notes the recent study by the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (RDFRS UK) which shows that the majority of British Christians support the separation of church and state.’
Mr Phillips, who has chaired the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) since its inception in 2006, was one of four speakers debating the topic of Religious Identity in ‘Superdiverse’ Societies. As part of the discussion, he lambasted Catholic adoption agencies for fighting lengthy legal battles to avoid accepting homosexual couples.
Strongly backing new legislation outlawing the practice, Mr Phillips said ‘You can’t say because we decide we’re different then we need a different set of laws’. He continued, ‘To me there’s nothing different in principle with a Catholic adoption agency, or indeed Methodist adoption agency, saying the rules in our community are different and therefore the law shouldn’t apply to us. Why not then say sharia can be applied to different parts of the country? It doesn’t work’.
Mr Phillips went on to criticise the growing intolerance displayed by some religious groups towards those that do not share their beliefs, remarking ‘There is something rather odd that is happening amongst what I call the righteous brigade, that is people of good will and so on. And that is that if you don’t agree 100 per cent with them and excoriate people who have a different point of view actually somehow you are joining a bad bunch of people.’
Head of Public Affairs for the BHA, Pavan Dhaliwal, reacted positively to the EHRC chair’s comments: ‘Religious organisations are becoming increasingly adept at using their political influence to claim special privileges under law, a process which clearly threatens the fundamental principle of universal equality. Conscientious objection is regularly used as an excuse by groups who do not feel they should have to comply with anti-discrimination legislation, and often allows them to continue with outdated and unfair practices.’
Ms Dhaliwal continued, ‘The BHA is glad that Mr Phillips has chosen to speak out on this important issue, and notes the recent study by the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (RDFRS UK) which shows that the majority of British Christians support the separation of church and state.’
The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed the ruling of the High Court that the saying of prayers as part of a formal council meeting is not lawful under the Local Government Act 1972.
Pavan Dhaliwal, BHA Head of Public Affairs commented, 'The practice of saying Christian prayers in local councils and in other public bodies, like the Westminster Parliament, is archaic, divisive and inappropriate. There has been progress in some councils which have seen prayers abolished and in new institutions like the Scottish Parliament, which was founded without the same tradition of prayers. This judgement will considerably advance this progress, and all who want our public life to be inclusive and open will welcome it.
‘Religious councillors, like any others, may wish to reflect on their own beliefs as they confront the duties of public life, but enforcing sectional religious practices into what should be a neutral civic space is wrong. Participation in the democratic process is not limited to those of a particular belief, and official prayer sessions of any variety before council meetings are exclusive and should be abolished.'
Pavan Dhaliwal, BHA Head of Public Affairs commented, 'The practice of saying Christian prayers in local councils and in other public bodies, like the Westminster Parliament, is archaic, divisive and inappropriate. There has been progress in some councils which have seen prayers abolished and in new institutions like the Scottish Parliament, which was founded without the same tradition of prayers. This judgement will considerably advance this progress, and all who want our public life to be inclusive and open will welcome it.
‘Religious councillors, like any others, may wish to reflect on their own beliefs as they confront the duties of public life, but enforcing sectional religious practices into what should be a neutral civic space is wrong. Participation in the democratic process is not limited to those of a particular belief, and official prayer sessions of any variety before council meetings are exclusive and should be abolished.'
BHA Darwin Day Lecture explores the new scientific field of synthetic biology
Failing schools compelled by the government to convert to being sponsored Academies cannot also be forced to adopt the religious character of their sponsor body. The news comes in correspondence between the Department for Education (DfE) and British Humanist Association (BHA). The BHA has welcomed the reassurance, but urged parents and teachers to be diligent to ensure that no pressure is placed on a ‘forced Academy’, as such schools have been dubbed, to also become a ‘forced “faith” school’.
In Essex, Briscoe Primary and Nursery School, a failing community school without a religious character, is being compelled to convert to be an Academy sponsored by Wickford C of E Voluntary Controlled Infants School, a former Voluntary Controlled school that separately chose to convert to being an Academy last year. This means that Wickford will have control over the governance of Briscoe, despite Wickford latter being a ‘faith’ school but Briscoe not. The BHA asked the DfE if Wickford could force Briscoe to legally adopt its religious designation, or otherwise adopt its ‘faith ethos’.
In its reply, the DfE confirmed this would not be possible:
‘We agree that it would not be right for the process of becoming an Academy to be a means by which parents and the local community are denied the opportunity to express their views about changes in the character of their local schools. As Wickford CofE School is a Church school and is sponsoring a community school we have been clear with both schools that the community school cannot change its characteristics, adopt its ethos or seek a designation simply because its proposed sponsor is a Church school. If such a change was proposed we would expect there to be a thorough consultation, the responses to which showed strong local support.’
The DfE also explained that the funding agreement of the Academy would give the Secretary of State the right to veto any proposals for ‘forced Academies’ without a religious character to gain one – something that has not previously been the case. This rule was recently introduced for Free Schools, and it is welcome to hear it will also be introduced for Academies, and the veto would be exercised in cases such as this one.
Commenting on the changes, BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson said, ‘This reassurance from the DfE is welcome, although we still have concerns that pressure will be brought to bear on these schools to become ‘faith’ schools. And it would be preferable if such rules were in law, not just in a funding agreement and subject to the whim of the government of the day. We will join parents, teachers and other local campaigners in ensuring that no “forced Academy” also becomes a “forced ‘faith’ school”.’
In Essex, Briscoe Primary and Nursery School, a failing community school without a religious character, is being compelled to convert to be an Academy sponsored by Wickford C of E Voluntary Controlled Infants School, a former Voluntary Controlled school that separately chose to convert to being an Academy last year. This means that Wickford will have control over the governance of Briscoe, despite Wickford latter being a ‘faith’ school but Briscoe not. The BHA asked the DfE if Wickford could force Briscoe to legally adopt its religious designation, or otherwise adopt its ‘faith ethos’.
In its reply, the DfE confirmed this would not be possible:
‘We agree that it would not be right for the process of becoming an Academy to be a means by which parents and the local community are denied the opportunity to express their views about changes in the character of their local schools. As Wickford CofE School is a Church school and is sponsoring a community school we have been clear with both schools that the community school cannot change its characteristics, adopt its ethos or seek a designation simply because its proposed sponsor is a Church school. If such a change was proposed we would expect there to be a thorough consultation, the responses to which showed strong local support.’
The DfE also explained that the funding agreement of the Academy would give the Secretary of State the right to veto any proposals for ‘forced Academies’ without a religious character to gain one – something that has not previously been the case. This rule was recently introduced for Free Schools, and it is welcome to hear it will also be introduced for Academies, and the veto would be exercised in cases such as this one.
Commenting on the changes, BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson said, ‘This reassurance from the DfE is welcome, although we still have concerns that pressure will be brought to bear on these schools to become ‘faith’ schools. And it would be preferable if such rules were in law, not just in a funding agreement and subject to the whim of the government of the day. We will join parents, teachers and other local campaigners in ensuring that no “forced Academy” also becomes a “forced ‘faith’ school”.’
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