Religious schools discriminating against atheists

[MNersanonymous]

Dh and I are just having a discussion about this. The best state schools in our area are all religious and we, as atheists, feel discriminated against.

Could we take action against our local council under the religious discrimination legislation?!

Just curious really.

But Clam, the believers have it both ways, first dibs at the faith school, and if it happens not to be the one they like best, equal dibs a the non faith school.

Athiests do not get priority anywhere.

Except perhaps schools choosing on innate brainpower, especially if LOGIC is part of the test.

You could go on forever - " I don't support the war, so why should I fund it?" In every part of town round here there is a state school to cater for it... I don't see that faith schools have replaced any state.

Schools aren't allowed to choose on innate brainpower, I thought? Music yes... religion yes... anything academic, no (except private schools though, of course).

NKF, we are all entitled to use all the services our tax pays for - if we need them. There is no other area where you can need a service but be denied it on grounds of religion.

LadyOfWaffle: you never lived in a village then where the only primary on offer is CofE? Ditto the two neighbouring villages?

Quattrocento.... where did I say that "I wanted faith?" and that I expected you to pay for it?

rubberduck, I think the faith school selection works more subtly than just brainpower. It's all about "committed" parents as far as I can work out.

This talk about "Catholic children" or "atheist children" makes me cross. I'm an atheist, my daughter is 3. She doesn't have any religious or non-religious beliefs. She is being discriminated against because of what I (don't) believe. How can that be right?

All our good local schools are faith schools. The non-faith schools are dreadful. I therefore can suddenly find religion (amazing how many parents of 3 year olds do round these parts) or be satisfied with a "choice" of some fairly atrocious school options.

I have no objection to people educating their children in faith schools, from which they are welcome to exclude my daughter on the basis of my religious beliefs if they wish. I do strongly object to paying for them to do so.

Interesting point in the OP - even if it were discrimination and you brought a successful case against the school, would you then want your child educated there?

As a side issue, there was a case in Scotland where a teacher was judged to be discriminated against for not being promoted in a faith school (he was atheist). AM now a bit hazy on details

margo: sorry was responding to choccypig's comment about schools possibly selecting on brainpower... was just commenting that wasn't technically allowed.

Always thought it was daft that you get specialist science colleges (say) but you can't then get priority to that school because you're a particular whizz at science and you'd benefit most from their extra facilities/funding.

IME, religious schools are a place for the church to invest in evangelism. Non-Christians are welcomed with open arms!

Believe it or not, there are some Anglican dioceses where Anglicans and other Christians are discriminated against, because their target audience is the non-Christian members of the community.

And RubberDuck... yes they can choose on brain power. What about the 11+? And the part-selective "comprehensives" round here that select up to 35% of their pupils on ability. Not counting the quite-likely-to-be-bright-too siblings of previous "winners"

sorry, I missed that. We're all just falling over each other to say what a crap system it is and how angry we are!

There is a reason why faith schools are often good. And I think that so few schools are good and that's where the irritation and the campaiging should be focussed. It's absurd that we are all so desperate for something half way decent for something half way decent for our children's education.

It's unfair that some people just don't get a look in at a decent school. They have no money or no way to play the system.

Altering the admissions policy of the few good schools that exist won't change that.

If there was an atheists' only school getting fabulous results, no atheists would mind that Christians couldn't attend

But Christians wouldn't want to attend would they ? Unless ALL The schools in the area were atheist only... and then naturally the Christians would choose the best atheist only school, but they would be bottom of the pile.
Which is the situation for atheists (and agnostics) in areas where ALL the schools are faith-based.

But surely we know by now that parental choice is a myth.

latchmere: agree totally - how can a 3 year old be said to have any faith?

Scripture union hound the state schools and clamour to go in to start their fun groups for the 'unchurched'

Atheists do seem to want to get their children into faith schools and then they complain that God is mentioned in assembly.

too tired to contribute effectively though this is a subject very dear to my heart (hello harpsi..)

So briefly, what margoandjerry said.

It's a v interesting question though, and it would be v g to have a discrimination lawyer or EU person comment.

clam: ah, didn't think of that. No grammars in our area, you see Was always told here that the specialist colleges system meant bugger all in practise.

One of the reasons faith schools are good schools is precisely because they are faith schools. Faith schools are by nature more traditional. Maybe that's what makes them better, I don't know. A constructive network has grown up around them which makes dismantling the system extremely problematic. They will usually be attached to a particularly church (I don't know about madrassas) with a constructive community linked to the church. Over the years people who can't afford a private school have seen how children at faith schools perform and are disciplined and educated, and have flocked (excuse the pun) to them. This has given rise to a "if you can't beat them join them" mentality with parents attending church solely in order to acquire a place . You are not discriminated against for being an atheist. (but you are possibly being discriminated against for not being a hypocrite!)

But clam, those schools that choose on the basis of academic excellence at least are selecting on the basis of the children themselves and qualities that they have. I'm not a fan of those either, but faith schools select on the basis of the parents - I don't imagine there are many children at these schools professing a faith that neither parent shares. So why should children be penalised (or priviliged) for their parents' views?

nkf: ds1 is in a non-faith school and STILL God is mentioned all the bloody time as fact. So no difference there (and no, I don't want him in a faith school... I just think faith schools are hypocritical and divisive and shouldn't be funded by the taxpayer)

Stuffitllama, how am I not discriminated against if there are no non faith schools in my area and they all place me at the bottom of their list?

Harpsichorder I think you are wrong

definition of a Voluntary Aided School from the CAB website

Voluntary aided schools are usually called religious schools or faith schools. In a voluntary aided school:-

• the land and buildings are normally owned by a charity, often a religious organisation such as a church, but the governing body is responsible for running the school
• the school is funded partly by the local education authority (Education and Library Board in Northern Ireland), partly by the governing body and partly by the charity
• the governing body employs the staff
• the local education authority provides support services
• the pupils have to follow the national curriculum
• the admissions policy is determined and administered by the governors in consultation with the local education authority and other relevant schools in the area.