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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| New faith schools 'face shake-up' | New faith schools 'face shake-up' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| All new religious schools could have to offer at least 25% of their classroom places to "non-believing" children, the BBC has learned. | All new religious schools could have to offer at least 25% of their classroom places to "non-believing" children, the BBC has learned. |
| Education Secretary Alan Johnson believes the move could reduce religious and racial tension. | Education Secretary Alan Johnson believes the move could reduce religious and racial tension. |
| His plans stipulate that where there is "strong local opposition" to the policy, councils would need government consent before implementing the quota. | His plans stipulate that where there is "strong local opposition" to the policy, councils would need government consent before implementing the quota. |
| A Conservative Party spokesman said they welcomed the proposals. | A Conservative Party spokesman said they welcomed the proposals. |
| "There is a case for giving local authorities a new discretionary power to require new faith schools to admit up to 25% of pupils from outside their faith group as this would enable them to take account of local circumstances," he said. | "There is a case for giving local authorities a new discretionary power to require new faith schools to admit up to 25% of pupils from outside their faith group as this would enable them to take account of local circumstances," he said. |
| "We look forward to the government's proposals." | "We look forward to the government's proposals." |
| It is believed that fewer than 100 schools a year will be affected. | |
| The Education and Inspection Bill returns to the House of Lords on Tuesday and ministers will put forward amendments then. | The Education and Inspection Bill returns to the House of Lords on Tuesday and ministers will put forward amendments then. |
| Debate | Debate |
| Critics of faith schools have suggested that they promote more segregated communities. | Critics of faith schools have suggested that they promote more segregated communities. |
| The Church of England has said it will set aside a quarter of places at its new schools for people outside the faith. | The Church of England has said it will set aside a quarter of places at its new schools for people outside the faith. |
| Faith schools have been the subject of a great deal of debate in the Lords Alan JohnsonEducation Secretary | Faith schools have been the subject of a great deal of debate in the Lords Alan JohnsonEducation Secretary |
| Under the powers, local authorities would have to ensure new faith schools admit at least 25% of "non-believers" where they deem it reasonable. | Under the powers, local authorities would have to ensure new faith schools admit at least 25% of "non-believers" where they deem it reasonable. |
| Where local authorities choose not to invoke these powers, there will be a facility to challenge such decisions by appealing to the secretary of state, a source told the BBC. | Where local authorities choose not to invoke these powers, there will be a facility to challenge such decisions by appealing to the secretary of state, a source told the BBC. |
| In a leaked letter, Mr Johnson said: "Faith schools have been the subject of a great deal of debate in the Lords so far, and concern about their impact unites peers from across the House." | In a leaked letter, Mr Johnson said: "Faith schools have been the subject of a great deal of debate in the Lords so far, and concern about their impact unites peers from across the House." |
| In June, former Education Secretary Lord Baker said that faith schools should admit at least one-third of pupils from other faiths as a condition of receiving state funding. | In June, former Education Secretary Lord Baker said that faith schools should admit at least one-third of pupils from other faiths as a condition of receiving state funding. |
| However, the proposed measure is expected to be supported by the Conservative Party. | However, the proposed measure is expected to be supported by the Conservative Party. |