Half of private faith schools judged as failing by inspectors

24 November, 2017

Almost half (49%) of private faith schools have been judged as failing by Ofsted due to concerns over leadership and the promotion of ‘British values’, new official statistics have revealed. Humanists UK, which campaigns for private faith schools to be held to higher standards, has stated that the new figures demonstrate the risks of allowing religious organisations free reign of the education of children.

According to the figures, 49% of private faith schools were judged as less than ‘good’ at their most recent inspection, with a startling 26% rated ‘inadequate’. Overall, the independent schools inspected by Ofsted – both those with and those without a religious character – were judged less than ‘good’ 32% of the time, meaning that private faith schools are failing at a significantly higher rate than other schools.

Ofsted has stated that the rise in the number of faith schools failing to meet the required standards is due in part to the strengthening of standards and inspections in recent years, and an increased emphasis on the promotion of values such as mutual understanding and respect for people from different backgrounds and beliefs.

Humanists UK has been pivotal in this move towards greater scrutiny of private faith schools in recent years. In 2014, as part of a consultation on Ofsted’s inspection framework, it called for private schools to be inspected far more rigorously, arguing that ‘there is no logical reason for state and private schools to be held to different standards’. And in 2015 Humanists UK was responsible for the closure of a controversial independent inspectorate of Christian and Muslim schools, whose inspectors were found to hold a range of intolerant and fundamentalist religious views and to have links to the schools they were inspecting. Indeed, Ofsted has partly attributed the new figures to the fact that its own inspectors have taken over the inspection of these schools, leading to more impartial and accurate assessments. ‘The inspection of these schools has caused a far larger fall in the proportion judged good or better than would otherwise have been expected’, Ofsted said.  

Humanists UK Education Campaigner Jay Harman commented, ‘Whilst these figures could be interpreted as showing a decline in the standard of education provided by private faith schools, the strengthening of the inspection regime in recent years suggests that these problems have actually existed for a long time and are only now coming to light. For far too long religious organisations have been left to their own devices in running private schools, free to prioritise their own vested interests over the better interests and rights of their pupils. The consequence of this permissive approach to the influence of religion in our schools is becoming more and more clear, and it ought to lead to a serious review of what we allow faith schools – both in the private and state system – to get away with.

‘In the meantime, we will certainly be calling for meaningful enforcement action to be taken against these failing schools, and for any setting that is repeatedly found to be limiting the rights of children to be closed down.’

Notes

For further comment or information please contact Humanists UK Education Campaigns Manager Jay Harman on 0207 324 3078 or jay@humanists.uk.

See the new Ofsted figures: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-association-independent-schools-inspections-and-outcomes-as-at-31-august-2017

At Humanists UK, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. Our work brings non-religious people together to develop their own views, helping people be happier and more fulfilled in the one life we have. Through our ceremonies, education services, and community and campaigning work, we strive to create a fair and equal society for all.