ATL - the Association of Teachers and Lecturers - after debating and consulting its members on faith schools has published a hard hitting position paper which says faith schools which discriminate against potential pupils and staff should no longer be allowed state funding.
The ATL believes Faith
schools must become far more accountable if they are to continue
getting the current level of tax-payers money. The paper says:
"In a country which is
becoming increasingly secular and multi-faith it is hard to justify
public taxes being used to fund schools which discriminate against the
majority of school children and potential staff on the grounds of their
religious belief...We acknowledge that some faith schools provide
excellent teaching and are well integrated into their local community.
However, too many do not and unless there are some important changes to
the way faith schools operate we fear they will escalate divisions in
society rather than help integrate our communities.”
The paper shows concern over what it sees as the selective admissions pupils in faith schools - who are less
likely to be entitled to free school meals, and are more likely to have
English as their first language than the national average in schools
across England. The union is also concerned that many faith schools are allowed to discriminate
when they are employ staff - Voluntary aided faith schools can
stipulate the beliefs of all their employees.
As a result of the consultation exercise the ATL are calling for:
• The level of school autonomy – over admissions and the curriculum – to depend on the school promoting community cohesion.
• No extension of rights to be given to faith schools to refuse to employ staff on the basis of their religious belief.
• Faith schools to minimise segregation and promote community cohesion
through their admissions, curriculum and employment policies.
• Faith and non-faith schools to work more closely together.
• More rigorous criteria with regular monitoring and inspection of the
religious education (RE), personal, social and health education (PSHE),
and citizenship taught in faith schools.
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