TAKE ACTION! Write to your MP and to Michael Gove to oppose the plans, and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to do likewise.
The British Humanist Association (BHA) has briefed the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG) and other interested MPs and peers on Free Schools teaching creationism. The briefing follows the news this past week that the Government have backed for opening three schools that intend to do this. In addition, one of the schools, Exemplar – Newark Business Academy, was also debated in the House of Lords on Tuesday.
The briefing sets out that the three schools – Grindon Hall Christian School, Exemplar – Newark Business Academy and Sevenoaks Christian School – all wish to teach in science creationist theories which contradict evolution, and intend to teach these theories in Religious Education. The briefing also outlines why this is no more acceptable than teaching creationism in science, and in fact against the school’s funding agreements. The briefing concludes, ‘Given these three groups’ backgrounds and statements about intended teaching, it appears to us that the Government have either failed to scrutinise these bids, or has gone back on its previous statements. We would like to see all three bids rejected by the Government.’
Furthermore, during a debate in the House of Lords on Tuesday, APPHG member Lord Hunt of Kings Heath raised Exemplar Academy at length. The debate came prior to the news about Sevenoaks and Grindon Hall schools. Lord Hunt said:
[This week saw] the quite extraordinary decision of the Minister’s department… to allow a Free School to be opened by a group of creationists. The group behind the plans, known as the Exemplar Newark Business Academy, put forward a revised bid by basically the same people who proposed the Everyday Champions Academy last year, which was formally backed by the Everyday Champions Church. That bid was rejected explicitly because of concerns surrounding the teaching of creationism. In February 2011, while promoting the Everyday Champions Academy bid, the Everyday Champions Church leader, Gareth Morgan, said:
‘Creationism will be taught as the belief of the leadership of the school. It will not be taught exclusively in the sciences, for example. At the same time, evolution will be taught as a theory’.
That bid was rejected, but it has resurrected itself-if I may use the term in relation to creationism and that belief. This is now going to be bid by the Exemplar Academy without the formal backing of the church, but the website for the new academy was initially part of the Everyday Champions Church website, and the plans were launched at the Everyday Champions Church, described as a resubmission of a previous bid.
I use this, first, as an occasion to strongly protest against the decision of the Minister’s department on this matter. I find it outrageous-outrageous-that a school that clearly is going to be tempted down the creationism route has been authorised by the noble Lord. What safeguards are there apart from potential interventions by Ofsted if we find that creationism is being taught? What happens if Ofsted, first time round, makes it an outstanding school? For many parents there will be no recourse whatever.
In addition, a number of other parliamentarians have now tabled Parliamentary Questions on the issue.
BHA Head of Public Affairs Pavan Dhaliwal commented, ‘We very much welcome Lord Hunt’s excellent contribution to the debate around these schools, and now that we have briefed parliamentarians on the matter we hope the pressure will continue.
‘Almost 3,000 emails have now been sent to Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove and to MPs on this matter; if you are yet to write, we urge you to do so, as it is vital that the Government recognises that it is not acceptable for state funded schools to teach creationism in any subject, and not acceptable for creationists to run state funded schools on the flimsy premise that they will not teach creationism. The evidence is very clear that creationism is not an evidence-based theory.’
Notes
TAKE ACTION! Write to your MP and to Michael Gove to oppose the plans, and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to do likewise.
For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanists.uk or on 0773 843 5059.
Read the BHA briefing on groups teaching creationism in schools: https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/bha-briefing-creationist-groups-approved-to-run-free-schools.pdf
On Monday afternoon, the BHA posted a facility through which people could write to their MPs or Michael Gove. By today, almost 3,000 emails have been sent: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/what-you-can-do-to-help/creationist-free-schools
In 2011, the BHA came together with 30 leading scientists and educators and four other organisations to launch ‘Teach evolution, not creationism!’ Read the statement from scientists including Sir David Attenborough, Professor Richard Dawkins and Professor Michael Reiss, and organisations including the BHA, the Association for Science Education, the British Science Association, the Campaign for Science and Engineering and Ekklesia: http://evolutionnotcreationism.org.uk/
View the BHA-backed Government e-petition on the same subject: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/1617
Read more about the BHA’s campaigns work on countering creationism: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/religion-and-schools/countering-creationism
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.