New research has revealed that schools that are more ethnically diverse lead to greater social cohesion between children of different ethnicities. The study of 4,000 Year 10 pupils in 96 English state schools was conducted by the University of Bristol and the London School of Economics and focused on children who are white British, Asian British, and black British. Humanists UK has stated that the research is the latest in a string of reports that advocate more open schools, stressing that the Government should reconsider its plans to allow new fully segregated faith schools in light of the findings.
The study looked at attitudes towards ‘openness’, both social and political, as well as asking pupils to rate their feelings of warmth towards those of different backgrounds on a scale from zero to one hundred. The findings demonstrated that at more diverse schools a higher proportion of pupils expressed more warmth towards those of other ethnicities. For children of a white British ethnicity, for every ten percent increase in the number of black pupils in their school, their feelings towards them increased by 1.74 points on the scale.
With regard to schools that were less diverse, the report warned that,
‘highly segregated school system[s] will generate a lot of pupils with negative orientations towards other groups’
The report concluded that ‘the value to researching and implementing policies to encourage integration and contact is therefore clear’.
These findings echo previous research carried out by the Department for Education which found that pupils in ethnically mixed schools in Oldham had more positive views of children of different backgrounds than those who attended more segregated schools.
Humanists UK has long campaigned for the removal of religiously selective admissions policies in faith schools, which promote ethnic, social, and religious segregation. This research reinforces the substantial body of evidence demonstrating that the Government should seek to increase diversity within schools, rather than promoting schools that segregate pupils along religious and ethnic lines. Earlier this month the Government announced plans to fund new 100% religiously selective Voluntary Aided schools, despite vowing to retain the 50% cap that applies to free schools.
Humanists UK Education Campaigns Manager Jay Harman commented, ‘The evidence is clear. More diverse schools are a positive force for society, encouraging social cohesion in a way that less diverse schools simply cannot. The Government should heed the recommendations of this new research and end their harmful campaign to allow greater segregation in faith schools.’
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For further comment or information please contact Humanists UK Education Campaigns Manager on jay@humanists.uk or 02073243078.
Read the full report: http://www.cream-migration.org/publ_uploads/CDP_07_18.pdf
Read Humanists UK’s previous news item on the benefits of diverse schools: https://humanists.uk/2017/08/03/department-for-education-research-supports-mixed-schools-over-segregated-schools/
Read Humanists UK’s research on ethnic diversity at religious free schools: https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016-09-15-FINAL-Ethnic-diversity-in-religious-Free-Schools.pdf
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.