The British Humanist Association (BHA) has today submitted its response to the Department for Education’s consultation on changes to the school admissions framework, and is urging members and supporters to do likewise before the closure date on 19th August. In its response the BHA has argued that it ‘wants all schools to include and educate pupils of all religions and non-religious beliefs together, so that they can learn about and from each other, instead of being segregated by their religion. Any religious discrimination in admissions is against the ideal of an open and inclusive school system. It is our firm position that no state-funded ‘faith’ school should be permitted to discriminate in their admissions on religious grounds in any circumstances.’
Focussing on segregation caused by ‘faith’ schools, the BHA said that ‘[t]he evidence shows that faith-based admissions criteria discriminate along both ethno-religious and socio-economic lines, and we believe this must be resolved… [by] removing such criteria. Separating children by religion, class and ethnicity is totally antithetical to aims of social cohesion.’ The BHA also argued that faith-based criteria, should they continue, must be as clear and precise as possible, must take into account their impact on the surrounding community, and must not be allowed to discriminate in favour of those of faiths other than that of the school, as they are currently able to do.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘During the admissions appeals window we get contacted almost every day by parents who couldn’t get their child into their local school, or the best school in their neighbourhood, because it’s a ‘faith’ school. At the same time, evidence from towns such as Oldham shows that faith-based admissions criteria have seriously contributed to segregation. And we also have evidence that ‘faith’ schools can be socio-economically selective, for example the percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals.
‘It is only by removing such criteria that we can ensure our education system is equally inclusive to all children, regardless of religion or belief.’
Take Action!
You can also respond to the admissions code consultation. You can read the draft code and consultation document, and fill in your response, on the Department for Education website. Feel free to look at our response when doing so, but make sure to write your own. If possible, provide your own examples of having been discriminated against by faith-based admissions criteria. You might also want to look at the old admissions code and appeals code. The deadline for responses is 19th August so please ensure you get yours in before then.
Thank you!
Notes
For further comment or information, please contact Richy Thompson on 020 7462 4993.
Read the consultation on changes to the school admissions framework, and the BHA’s response.
Read more about the BHA’s campaigns work on ‘faith’ schools.
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf 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.