Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson MP has tabled an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to keep the 50% cap on faith-based admissions in new religious schools.
Since 2011 all new state schools have had to be free schools and they have been subject to such a cap. But the Schools Bill is set to do away with that free school presumption. That means the door has been opened to a new wave of 100% faith-selective schools. As the Bill is written, new voluntary aided faith schools could open that would have no legal requirement to admit pupils from outside their religion. This fact was potentially unintended.
As a member of the Bill Committee, Munira Wilson MP has tabled an amendment that would require all new schools, when oversubscribed, ‘to provide no more than half of all places… on the basis of with reference to the religious faith, or presumed religious faith, of [the pupil or] the pupil’s parents.’
Humanists UK’s Education Campaigns Manager Kieran Aldred commented:
‘We welcome this amendment from the Liberal Democrats. It is necessary to prevent new 100% faith-selective schools from opening in England. We know from the vocal lobbying of some faith groups that they clearly intend to propose new fully discriminatory religious schools if given the chance.
‘Faith-based admissions are discriminatory, segregationist, and contribute to a less integrated and cohesive society. They drive ethic, social, and religious division. The UK Government should accept this amendment and ensure all children of all beliefs have have access to high-quality local education.’
A Department for Education (DfE) statement to BBC Radio 4 during an interview with Humanists UK suggested the Government may not have intended to deliberately remove the cap, which was originally introduced by Labour in 2007. At the time, Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson said he hoped this meant the Government would remain open to amendments to address the issue.
Munira Wilson’s amendment
Clause 51, page 112, line 4, at end insert—
“(5) After section 7A (withdrawal of notices under section 7), insert—
“7B New schools to allocate no more than half of pupil places on basis of faith A new school for which proposals are sought by a local authority under section 7 must, where the school is oversubscribed, provide that no more than half of all places are allocated on the basis of or with reference to—
(a) the pupil’s religious faith, or presumed religious faith;
(b) the religious faith, or presumed religious faith, of the pupil’s parents.””
Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 0203 675 0959.
Read more about our work on state-funded faith schools.
Read the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Read our response to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.Read our faith cap explainer.
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