To think it is time to secularise all state-funded education?

[fideline]

Just that really.

fideline the state should fund faith schools because it cheaper, they can't afford to replace them.

I don't buy this argument that they inhibit choice.

They may or may not inhibit choice of a child's religion but they certainly inhibit choice by a parent of a suitable school for a child. A religious (Christian) child in my road would have a choice of at least two more schools than I would, as an atheist.

They are all in places where they would get planning permission easily

Only if the state allows it. Dont forget that towns have planners. Change of use would only be granted if it suited the development plans for a town.

There are lots of things that we could devote a small part of the timetable to in state schools (but don't);

Naturopathy
Farming
Jingoism
Klingon
Personal grooming

I'm sure there would be parents in favour of each, but it is not an argument for introducing them.

So if the state can't afford to buy all the church schools, they could at least stop funding new ones. And taking a longer term plan for when new school provision places - so that fit for purpose buildings are provided where they are needed rather than automatically funding 90% of the upkeep on ageing buildings

Since we are terribly short of housing I don't see it is a problem!
The state says they want the church school. The church says that is fine but they need to pay for it. The state says they won't, so the church says in that case they will sell elsewhere and they can sort their own.

At the same time as encouraging religious schools to accept those of other faiths & offer an alternative for those in rural areas with no choice

Whether or not the state can afford to 'buy out' schools from the faiths that 'own' the land, there is still no reason why the compulsion to hold a collective daily worship cannot be lifted. There isn't exactly a cost involved...

There should be the option to have a state-funded secular education.

YANBU. We are excluded from a couple of good schools locally (that would be really convenient for us) because we are not Catholic. Actually I am Catholic, but not practicing and wouldn't want to force religion onto the dc. Also, if you are Catholic you get transport provided by the LEA. The rest of us don't.

Of course, perhaps I should be lobbying for a Jedi school...

Yanbu, creates divides where there should be none. Keep religious teachings out of all schools.

If the faith element is very little, it wouldn't be missed if omitted.

If it's a significant part of the school day, it isn't appropriate to use public money to fund it.

Many independent schools have a religious foundation. That's where they should stay, IMHO: in the private sector.

I think even in the private sector they should be secular.

What an awful lot of people want is simply for their kid to be able to go to the neighbourhood school, not dozens of fancy 'choices'.

How can you keep religious teaching out of schools? You can't understand history, current affairs, art and literature without them. They teach about all religions.

Okay, how about this as a first step?

Just prohibit selection by religion.

How can you keep religious teaching out of schools? You can't understand history, current affairs, art and literature without them. They teach about all religions.

Delph You seem to be confusing RE with religious practice.

I feel very bitter to be fair, as in Brussels my dd has had a totally secular Primary education to date. Her cohort is pretty much mixed between cathoic and muslim. Out of nearly 50 children in her year, there are 10, I think, in Morals class. When I look to Secondary, pretty much all academic vs technical schools are Catholic. They don't /can't discriminate of course. But even a Muslim pupil has to do 2 hours per week of compulsory catholic re. Which makes me think that the most observant families will avoid these schools there leading to a huge split. It's not right. Religion has no place in state education.

Whether or not the state can afford to 'buy out' schools from the faiths that 'own' the land, there is still no reason why the compulsion to hold a collective daily worship cannot be lifted. There isn't exactly a cost involved...

And this^