The Government has today ‘pre-approved’ (i.e. backed to open) a further 34 mainstream Free Schools, five of which are religious. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has expressed concern at the continuing increase in the number of state-funded religious schools.
Today’s approved plans were submitted as part of the ‘sixth wave’ of Free School proposals, and will open from September 2015. Two further religious Free Schools were approved through the ‘fifth wave’ in January, ten were approved through the Targeted Basic Need Programme in December and 25 were approved through the (much bigger) ‘fourth wave’ in May last year.
The new schools approved today include:
- Akaal Primary School, a Sikh school in Derby
- Canary Wharf College 3 in Tower Hamlets, an all-through Christian school
- St Mary’s CE Primary School in Hertfordshire
- Kingston Community School in Kingston-upon-Thames, an all-through Christian school founded by Chapel St.
- Polam Hall Free School, an all-through school in Darlington. The existing Polam Hall private school has Christian roots.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘Religious schools are able to discriminate against both children and staff on the basis of religion and also teach that one faith is true and all others are false. We are concerned that in some areas they do not provide a sufficiently broad and balanced education nor enable children to mix with those from a range of backgrounds and beliefs. It is vital that every child is able to make friends with others from different cultures and is taught about a variety of religious and non-religious beliefs in a way that enables them to form their own opinions about the bigger questions. It is only by providing the next generation with such opportunities that we can ensure they inherit the cohesive but diverse society we all want to see become reality.’
Notes
For further comment or information, please contact Richy Thompson on 020 7324 3072.
Read the Department for Education’s press release: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-schools-bring-total-number-of-free-school-places-to-175000
Read more about the BHA’s work on ‘faith’ schools: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/schools-and-education/faith-schools/
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.