Recent developments towards the establishment of special needs Academies and Free Schools with a ‘faith ethos’ have been greeted with concern by the British Humanist Association (BHA). On 1 April, the first sponsored Special Academy in the country was established – with the sponsor being a nearby Catholic school. This also marks the first time that a faith group has been involved in the running of a state-funded special school.
It is unlawful for a special school to be formally designated with a religious character. However, Academies and Free Schools can have a ‘faith ethos’ without formally being designated. This means they are allowed to religiously select all the governors; use a religious genuine occupational requirement in appointing senior staff; and also put a religious slant on some aspects of the curriculum, such as sex and relationships education (SRE).
The first Special Academies opened in September 2011, with the first Special Free Schools to open in September 2012. The 2013 application form for Free Schools asked for the first time whether schools would have a ‘faith ethos’, including for Special Schools. In addition, on 1 April, Gatehouse School, a community special school in Milton Keynes, closed and re-opened as Stephenson School, the first sponsored Special Academy. The principal sponsor is St Paul’s Catholic School. Although there is no indication that St Paul’s intends to religiously influence Stephenson in any way, this is now a risk.
In addition, it was reported last month that a group of parents in Sevenoaks are exploring a bid for a blind Free School, following the impending closure of Dorton House School, a Non-Maintained Special School. They are considering incorporating their bid into the also proposed Sevenoaks Christian School.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘We believe that all state-funded schools should be secular, equally inclusive of all pupils and staff, regardless of religion or belief. However, it seems to us to be particularly important that schools catering for pupils with special educational needs, who in some cases may be less able to come to reasoned conclusions on questions of religion, do not impose a certain religious ethos on pupils, or deprive them of the high quality, comprehensive information they need from SRE.
‘We will continue to monitor the situation closely, to ensure that no pupil has their education negatively affected in these areas, as a result of these changes in statute.’
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For further comment or information, please contact Richy Thompson on 020 7462 4993.
The Sex Education Forum, of which the BHA is a member, produces special resources for SRE in special schools: http://www.ncb.org.uk/sef/resources/sre-in-different-settings
Read the BHA briefing note, ‘Faith ethos’ Academies and Free Schools explained, April 2012.
Read more about the BHA’s campaigns work on ‘faith’ schools.
View the BHA’s table of types of school with a religious character.
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.