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Faith school backing challenged Faith schools set for expansion
(about 6 hours later)
The government is lining up with religious groups to assert that faith schools make a positive contribution to community cohesion in England. The government has pledged its support for the principle of faith schools - with the prospect of many more Muslim schools within the state sector.
In a joint statement they call religious schools "valuable, engaged partners" in education and beyond. Schools Secretary Ed Balls and faith group leaders have formed a partnership - endorsing faith schools as a force to improve social cohesion in England.
They set out to "dispel myths" about faith schools, and signal an expansion of the sector with Muslim state schools especially being in short supply. Mr Balls says faith groups could raise standards in poorer areas, which may be through multi-faith academies.
But the ATL teachers' union has voiced doubt about the stance. But a teachers' union warns that faith schools can separate communities.
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers questioned whether faith schools do provide for "interaction between different faiths and communities". At a conference in London, Mr Balls presented a joint policy statement with Church of England, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Greek Orthodox and Sikh representatives.
The joint statement, Faith in the System, was launched in London at an event addressed by the schools secretary, Ed Balls. Show of unity
Under-represented Mr Balls committed the government to opening more faith schools where there was parental demand and the faith groups pledged their support for social cohesion and the principle of fair admissions.
Representatives were there from the five faiths in the state sector - Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu, along with children from five of their schools. FAITH SCHOOLS 6,850 out of a total of 21,000 schools, large majority either Church of England or Roman Catholic37 Jewish, 7 Muslim, 2 Sikh, 1 Greek Orthodox, 1 Seventh Day Adventist1.7 million pupils 21% of faith school secondary pupils from ethnic minorities - 17% in non faith schools
They heard that faith organisations had "a long and noble tradition" in education - pre-dating state schools - from medieval times, through the Reformation, to the present day. The schools secretary rejected claims that this show of unity was an attempt to repair the damage from a short-lived attempt by the government to require faith schools to admit a quota of pupils from outside this faith group.
These days about a third of all maintained schools in England are faith schools - about 6,850 out of some 21,000. Instead he said it was a reflection of the importance of working in partnership with such a large, successful part of the school system.
Of the 47 new academies that have opened so far, 16 have a faith designation. "I fully recognise that faith schools are popular with many parents," he said.
"One thing we've learnt as a government is that having a distinct ethos, strong leadership, a commitment to promoting opportunity for all, those are the kind of schools where parents want to send their children.
"And there are many faith schools which pass that test with flying colours," said Mr Balls.
He told the conference that faith schools were a longstanding partner in the drive to raise standards, particularly in more deprived areas.
"Faith schools take very seriously their historic mission to reach out to support children from lower income or disadvantaged backgrounds," said Mr Balls.
As an example, he said that in Oldham there were plans for a joint Church of England and Muslim academy.
There could be new faith academies - in addition to those replacing existing schools - in which half of the places would be for children from faith groups and the remainder from the wider community.
Backdoor selection
Mr Balls also stressed that faith schools must not use any form of covert selection - such as expensive uniforms, complicated admissions forms or expensive school trips.
HAVE YOUR SAY All schools should be based on the model of a faith school! Gavin T, Edinburgh Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY All schools should be based on the model of a faith school! Gavin T, Edinburgh Send us your comments
The statement says: "The government recognises that, in relation to the overall size of their populations, there are relatively few faith school places in the maintained sector available to Muslim, Sikh and Hindu children compared to the provision available for Christian and Jewish families." In support of the Faith in the System joint statement, the Archbishop of Birmingham, Vincent Nichols, said it was a myth that faith schools had fewer children from ethnic minorities or from less well off backgrounds.
The schools secretary said any expansion in the faith school sector would depend on demand from the local community - but that the school building programme could help to meet the demand for more Muslim schools.
While there were 376,000 Muslim children aged between five and 15 at the last census, there are only 1,770 pupils in the seven state-funded Muslim schools in England.While there were 376,000 Muslim children aged between five and 15 at the last census, there are only 1,770 pupils in the seven state-funded Muslim schools in England.
But there are 115 independent fee-charging Muslim schools. However Dr Mohamed Mukadam of the Association of Muslim Schools said that public suspicion about extremism remained a barrier to the setting up of more Muslim schools.
'Noble tradition' There are over 100 independent Muslim schools which could transfer into the state sector.
The government and faith school providers say they believe all schools - whether religious or not - play a key role in providing a safe environment for interaction between different faiths and communities. Division
In this way they foster understanding, integration and cohesion, the joint vision statement argues. Shadow schools minister Nick Gibb said that faith schools played an admirable role in providing choice for parents within the state education system.
But the Association of Teachers and Lecturers general secretary Mary Bousted said: "We question whether faith schools, particularly those where staff and children are chosen on a faith basis, provide an environment for 'interaction between different faiths and communities'. "Their position needs to be strengthened and modernised in our increasingly multicultural society."
"And we question why schools, in which the majority of funding comes from the state, should, as the government proposes, nurture young people in a particular faith." But the support was challenged by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.
'Excellent document' General secretary Mary Bousted asked "why schools, in which the majority of funding comes from the state, should, as the government proposes, nurture young people in a particular faith?"
The job of schools was to nurture young people as individuals and as responsible and compassionate global citizens, rather than promoting a particular religious viewpoint, said the union leader. Keith Porteous Wood of the National Secular Society said it was "a sure-fire recipe for separation, and future conflict to encourage children to think of themselves primarily as being of a particular religion, rather than encouraging them to concentrate on what we all have in common".
Shadow education minister Nick Gibb said Faith in the System was "an excellent document".
Faith schools played an admirable role in providing choice for parents within the state education system, he said.
"Their position needs to be strengthened and modernised in our increasingly multicultural society.
"There is a balance to be struck between the rights of parents to educate their children in a religious manner and the need to promote community cohesion. This paper successfully reconciles these two competing demands."
But Keith Porteous Wood of the National Secular Society said: "Separating children on the basis of religion cannot possibly encourage social cohesion."
Faith schools might be popular, but what people wanted was a good school not a religious school, he said.
"These plans are a betrayal of both pupils and parents who are either non-religious or non-practising, who heavily outnumber those who are practising."