A balanced discussion

We need a new debate on faith schools

If Labour has been at its best when at its boldest, then that certainly hasn’t been when dealing with the issues around faith schools—a point that was not lost on James Purnell who recently branded the government ‘allergic’ to discussing the topic.

Even since Alan Johnson’s ‘fastest u-turn in political history’ over plans to introduce admissions quotas for faith schools, ministers have done a good job of pretending that there isn’t even a debate to be had.

Part of the reason for that reluctance has been the (sometimes correct) perception that the faith schools debate can too quickly become polarised. If the debate is faith v secularism, or choice v equality then it is little wonder that some think it is best to steer well clear.

If that perception was ever right, it is no longer. For the last year the Accord Coalition has brought together religious and non-religious voices who share serious concerns about the way that faith schools operate. Accord takes no position on the principle of whether faith schools should exist. The reason is not only that our members have different views on that question: it is that we don’t think it is the most crucial issue. What we instead focus on are the basic standards of non-discrimination that all state-funded schools should follow.

The reason that faith schools are our focus is simply that there is a weight of evidence to show the harm caused by current policies. Because that evidence comes from a wide range of sources and can be difficult to find, this week we have taken the step of publishing a dossier so that facts and analysis from thinktanks, academics, unions and the government can all be read in one place.

While it is impossible to summarise the whole document here, there are some points that are striking.

1. There has been a significant amount of research on the relationship between religious admissions criteria, results and social selection. When the proportion of free school meals students in faith schools in 26% lower than in schools with no religious denomination it is little surprise that on average those schools get higher results.
   
   
2. While community cohesion is harder to measure, it has also been the subject of serious studies in recent years. Now in the dossier you can see how work by researchers including Ted Cantle and the Runnymede Trust have given the evidence to back up the belief that dividing children in school by their religion is a barrier to cohesion. And with poll figures from the EHRC showing that 60% of the general population and 66% of those in ethnic minority groups think religion is more divisive than race today, the dangers of ignoring the problem are clear.
   
   
3. There is a gathering consensus on the changes that are needed. From religious groups to unions, there is a growing belief that religious education should involve a balanced discussion about beliefs, not lessons on what to believe. Similarly, there is wide agreement that teachers should not be sacked because their private conduct is contrary to the tenets of a religion and that children shouldn’t have to go to a different secondary school from their friends because they do not share a religion.

The evidence that we have collected demonstrates that government’s failure to engage in the real debate about the future role of religion in schools is damaging both to the education system and society at large. The changes that we seek are all about making schools more inclusive, diverse and transparent, with families choosing schools, not the other way around. So, please take a look at the dossier - I am sure you will find plenty of interest.

Alex Kennedy is the coordinator of Accord

23 Sep 2009 15:21

 

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