Faith school cap ending - is it inclusive?

[mids2019]

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/may/01/england-scraps-50-rule-on-faith-school-admissions

Is this policy biased against atheists? Is it a policy that may deny access those from minority faiths access to decent schools? Interesting move in a more secular society.

As mentioned up thread, all approaches to education are based on a world view, it is impossible to be truely neutral. There is no such thing as a ‘safe space’.

@Sloejelly - true, but there's a big difference between that and worshiping being thrust at you and stories being taught as fact rather than theory

That was us.

In fact the nearest 5 primary schools were faith schools and heavily oversubscribed.

DH is of a minority faith that wasn't catered for in the area and we're both atheists. So DD had a long bus trip to get to the non-faith primary we got her into... a trip that went past all the faith schools that she didn't qualify for.

Faith schools are not better schools and it is misleading to say so. There are good faith schools and good none faith schools. However, there isn't a level playing field, with faith schools being allowed to select and non faith schools not being allowed; faith schools clearly having an advantage. To allow faith schools to select, using public funds, which helps to increase their deciples and to secure their future is wrong. Removing the control and privilege of proselytizing religion, from 'within' our education system, would be an advancement, the time for this in modern Britain is long over due. Schools are a place where children should be taught how to think not what to think. Religious institutions shouldn't be given such power, to discriminate and create segregation, over our publicly funded education system, it is they who are driving the agenda for their own ends. Fundamentally parents simply want good schools all round for their children. An education system open to all, inclusive not exclusive would be the greatest benefit for our society. To love thy neighbor one first has to be given a chance to get to know thy neighbor.

Link below if you wish to support or oppose the proposals of removing the faith cap:

consult.education.gov.uk/faith-schools-policy-team/faith-school-designation-reforms/

You are naive in the extreme if you think non-faith schools don’t teach children what to think. Don’t install their own set of morals and values.

What children are taught is just one variable in the equation. Another is who they are mixing with and forming friendships with. Children who are educated alongside others from different faith or non-faith backgrounds get a more rounded view of the world.
So faith schools will be better if 50% of their places are open to children if all faiths and none.

Non-faith schools don't teach atheism though. They teach about all faiths, though very often with a Christian slant.

Thanks @Etruscans, I've filled in the consultation response.

But you are missing the point of faith schools if you think it is only about learning about the precepts faith itself.

Yes in my experience they teach right from wrong, values, behaviours etc, but they don't disguise it behind religion. And teaching someone to have 'faith' is ludicrous IMO, it clearly is indoctrination of the lambs

So you are saying non-faith schools teachers teach their own values of what they consider right and wrong and behaviours etc but they don’t have something as clearly written as religious scripture for people to judge them on?

as clearly written as religious scripture

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I've taught in faith and non-faith schools and found there's very little difference.

theconversation.com/new-faith-schools-in-england-could-soon-allocate-all-their-places-on-religious-grounds-heres-why-thats-a-bad-idea-229214 article commenting on the proposal.

@mids2019 Fingers crossed that the intended consequences of this consultation will evaporate with the general election result. I believe Labour previously said they wouldn't oppose the proposal, but that it wouldn't be a priority for them. Let's see. If a significant number of private schools close due to the cost of living crisis and the VAT policy, then the Government may need willing parties to step in and open new schools at relatively short notice. The Catholic Education Service (CES) is chomping at the bit to do that as soon as the 50% cap is lifted.

In the meantime, this very good article explains why the CES's claim that running schools with anything other than 100% faith priority would breach Canon Law doesn't stack up: https://humanists.uk/2024/05/29/what-does-catholic-canon-law-actually-say-about-the-50-cap/