---
title: "Wales Humanists calls for review of faith schools as Wales faces falling pupil numbers"
date: "2026-10-07T15:53:08+01:00"
modified: "2026-10-07T15:55:19+01:00"
url: "https://humanists.uk/2026/10/07/wales-humanists-calls-for-review-of-faith-schools-as-wales-faces-falling-pupil-numbers/"
post_id: 199532
categories: ["Education", "News", "Wales"]
---

# Wales Humanists calls for review of faith schools as Wales faces falling pupil numbers

![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/iStock-157382154.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)empty classroomWales Humanists is calling on the Welsh Government to review faith-school provision as councils face difficult decisions about school closures because of falling pupil numbers and a changing religious landscape.

The call comes as Swansea forecasts more than 5,000 fewer pupils by 2032, while [Welsh Government projections](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwrkyml8g7ddo) suggest Wales could have around 100,000 fewer pupils over the next 15 years.

At the same time, Wales is becoming significantly less religious. The 2021 Census found that 46% of people in Wales described themselves as having no religion, up from 32% in 2011. Meanwhile, the proportion identifying as Christian fell from 58% to 43%. For the first time, ‘no religion’ was the largest response to the religion question in Wales.

Local authorities are already making difficult choices as faith schools face the impact of falling rolls. In Flintshire, proposals would see four Catholic schools close and be replaced by a new Catholic super-school. The proposals are being driven by falling pupil numbers, surplus places, and the need to address ageing school buildings and funding pressures.  
  
In Pembrokeshire, a proposal to [remove the Church in Wales status from Ysgol Cilgerran](https://humanists.uk/2026/06/29/pembrokeshire-school-proposal-to-create-more-inclusive-education-for-local-families/) has prompted strong opposition from the Church in Wales and the Roman Catholic Church.

Wales Humanists believes these cases raise a fundamental question: if Wales needs fewer schools, should provision that is open to every child be prioritised over schools that can restrict admission according to religion?

Faith schools manage their own admissions criteria and can give priority to children from particular religious backgrounds, potentially disadvantaging children who do not share that faith when places are limited. They can also give preference to teachers whose religious beliefs accord with the school’s faith.

Wales Humanists is calling for a national review of faith-school provision as part of the Welsh Government’s response to falling pupil numbers, including consideration of religious admissions criteria, employment practices, and whether maintaining separate faith-school provision remains sustainable where there are significant surplus places.

Wales Humanists believes that when Wales has fewer children and has to reduce its number of schools, publicly funded education should prioritise provision that is genuinely accessible to everyone.

**Kathy Riddick, Policy and Campaigns Manager for Wales at Humanists UK, said:**

‘Wales is facing profound demographic change, and we are going to have to make difficult decisions about the number and type of schools we maintain. If community schools are being closed because there are too few pupils and too many places, faith schools should not be automatically protected from the same scrutiny.

‘Faith schools can restrict admissions according to religion and give preference to teachers on religious grounds, whereas community schools are open to everyone equally. We are calling for the Welsh Government to ensure that universal access, equality, and sustainability are considered when deciding which schools Wales can afford to retain.’

#### Notes

For further comment or information, media should contact Wales Humanists Coordinator Kathy Riddick at <kathy@humanists.uk> or phone 029 2168 3532.

Read more about our work on [faith schools in Wales](https://humanists.uk/2025/07/22/listed-all-the-faith-schools-in-wales-that-discriminate-against-children-in-care/)

[Read the *Careless or Uncaring?* report](https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/FaithSchools_Wales_Englishtext.pdf).

[Read the Welsh version of the report.](https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/Diofal-Neu-Di-Hid.pdf)

[Read our guides on religion in schools](https://humanists.uk/2023/04/18/humanists-uk-launches-guide-to-religion-in-schools-in-response-to-tumbling-religion-figures/)

[Read about census data showing most people under 74 in Wales ticked ‘no religion’](https://humanists.uk/2023/01/30/2021-census-most-people-in-wales-under-74-tick-no-religion/)

Wales Humanists is part of Humanists UK. Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year, and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.