Updated statistics from the Department for Education released today reveal that a ninth proposed Free School, another ‘faith’ school, has now signed a funding agreement with the Department, clearing it for opening in September. Krishna-Avanti Primary School, a Hindu school in Leicester, brings the number of ‘faith’ Free Schools up to four out of the nine.
The number of schools converting to Academies last month has also been announced. 97 schools converted, taking the total number to do so to 527.
British Humanist Association Campaigns Officer Richy Thompson commented, ‘We have long warned that Free Schools and Academies are more attractive to faith groups than other types of state-maintained schools, as they give these groups greater freedom over the curriculum and over religious discrimination in admissions and employment. We are now seeing our concerns realised, as each newly announced ‘faith’ school continues their proliferation of the state system.
‘We’ve been meeting with senior officials at the Department for Education to raise our concerns, and have been working to amend the Education Bill to remove the presumption it introduces that all new schools will be Free Schools or Academies.’
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For further comment or information, please contact Richy Thompson on 020 7462 4993.
Read the BHA’s updated briefing for the Lords Committee Stage of the Education Bill.
Read the list of approved Free School proposals.
Read more about the BHA’s campaigns work on ‘faith’ schools.
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of ethically concerned, non-religious people in the UK. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.