The BHA has responded to a warning from the chief schools adjudicator Ian Craig that faith schools’ admissions rules are discriminating against poor and immigrant children to favour those from the middle classes.
Speaking at the publication of the office of the schools adjudicator’s annual report, Craig said: ‘We are bothered by the complexity of some faith schools’ points systems. We have come across points that benefit white middle-class areas and don’t benefit the immigrant children in the community.’
BHA chief executive Andrew Copson responded, ‘The evidence is now very clear – faith schools are in practice excluding children from poorer backgrounds. Mr Craig’s comments confirm the numerous studies which have shown that faith schools’ admissions policies frequently lead to socio-economic segregation. If Michael Gove wants to increase educational opportunities for poorer children, he should start by stripping faith schools of their power to discriminate.’
‘The truth is that there is no such thing as a ‘fair’ way of discriminating against children on religious grounds – faith schools are by their very nature divisive and antithetical to social cohesion. The government should take heed of Mr Craig’s comments and rethink its plan to significantly increase the influence of religious groups in the education system.’
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For further comment or information, please contact Andrew Copson on 020 3675 0959 or andrew@humanists.uk
The British Humanist Association is the national charity representing and supporting the interests of ethically concerned, non-religious people in the UK. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state