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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Peers reject faith school quotas | Peers reject faith school quotas |
| (1 day later) | |
| Peers have voted down a plan to make newly established faith schools in England take up to a quarter of pupils from other religions. | Peers have voted down a plan to make newly established faith schools in England take up to a quarter of pupils from other religions. |
| The rejection of an amendment to the Education Bill, tabled by Lord Baker, follows the decision by ministers to drop similar plans last week. | |
| Peers voted by a margin of more than three to one against the proposal. | Peers voted by a margin of more than three to one against the proposal. |
| Ex-Tory minister Lord Baker said the government had "changed tack" under pressure from the Catholic Church. | Ex-Tory minister Lord Baker said the government had "changed tack" under pressure from the Catholic Church. |
| 'Voluntary agreement' | 'Voluntary agreement' |
| Peers voted by 119 to 37 against the former education secretary's amendment. | Peers voted by 119 to 37 against the former education secretary's amendment. |
| He had claimed his proposal would promote "social cohesion". | He had claimed his proposal would promote "social cohesion". |
| Earlier this month, Lord Baker dropped an amendment to the bill, calling for a quota, after the government promised to introduce similar plans. | Earlier this month, Lord Baker dropped an amendment to the bill, calling for a quota, after the government promised to introduce similar plans. |
| ENGLAND'S FAITH SCHOOLS Church of England 4,646Roman Catholic 2,041Jewish 37Muslim 9 (expected)Sikh 2 Q&A: Faith school quotas | ENGLAND'S FAITH SCHOOLS Church of England 4,646Roman Catholic 2,041Jewish 37Muslim 9 (expected)Sikh 2 Q&A: Faith school quotas |
| But Education Secretary Alan Johnson announced last week that this was no longer going to happen. | But Education Secretary Alan Johnson announced last week that this was no longer going to happen. |
| He had reached a voluntary agreement with Catholic leaders to ensure new faith schools would take up to a quarter of pupils from other religions, he added. | He had reached a voluntary agreement with Catholic leaders to ensure new faith schools would take up to a quarter of pupils from other religions, he added. |
| Lord Baker said the real beneficiary of the government removing its quotas plan would be the 120 Muslim private schools wishing to enter the state sector. | Lord Baker said the real beneficiary of the government removing its quotas plan would be the 120 Muslim private schools wishing to enter the state sector. |
| Under his plan, councils would have been empowered to order new faith schools to take up to 25% of pupils from other religions, or no religion. | Under his plan, councils would have been empowered to order new faith schools to take up to 25% of pupils from other religions, or no religion. |
| The Conservatives did not support Lord Baker's amendment. | The Conservatives did not support Lord Baker's amendment. |
| Cross-bencher Lord Alton said quotas would "destabilise successful schools, causing division and resentment", adding that a "consensual way forward" would be better. | Cross-bencher Lord Alton said quotas would "destabilise successful schools, causing division and resentment", adding that a "consensual way forward" would be better. |
| Meanwhile, peers backed another amendment calling for schools to promote "community cohesion". | Meanwhile, peers backed another amendment calling for schools to promote "community cohesion". |
| The amendment allows for Ofsted inspectors to monitor the way schools form links with other local educational establishments. | The amendment allows for Ofsted inspectors to monitor the way schools form links with other local educational establishments. |