Faith Schools: A Humanist & Secularist Liberal Democrat Briefing

• [Aug 17]: WHAT is Liberal Democrat Policy? The case for secular state education has a long liberal tradition dating back to John Stuart Mill. Current Liberal Democrat policy on faith schools was determined by the March 2009 Harrogate debate on Education Policy. The relevant sections of the motion are reproduced below:

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1: Allowing parents and pupils to choose schools, and not schools to choose pupils, by stopping the establishment of new schools which select by ability, aptitude or faith, and by introducing policies radically to reduce all existing forms of selection.

2a: Allowing parents to continue to choose faith-based schools within the state-funded sector, and allow the establishment of additional faith schools.

2b: Requiring all existing state-funded faith schools to come forward within five years with plans to demonstrate the inclusiveness of their intakes, with local authorities empowered to oversee and approve the delivery of these plans, and to withdraw state-funded status where inclusiveness cannot be demonstrated.

2c: Ending the opt-out from employment and equalities legislation for staff in faith schools, except those responsible for religious instruction.

2d: Requiring schools who choose to hold assemblies to ensure that any act of collective worship is optional for pupils who are old enough to decide for themselves and otherwise for parents.

3: Ensuring that religious education is inclusive in all schools and teaches about what people believe rather than what to believe, while leaving faith schools free to offer their pupils religious instruction in the school's own faith, subject to pupils being able to opt out where they have attained the maturity to make that decision for themselves and subject to parental decision until that point.

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The basic position therefore is that the Liberal Democrats would allow the creation of new faith schools. However they would not be able to discriminate by selecting on the basis of faith. Existing faith schools, many of which select on the basis of faith, would be allowed to continue using faith based selection criteria providing that they could demonstrate the inclusiveness of their intakes. For example: does examination of free school meal data indicate that the faith school under consideration has a similar socio-economic mix to neighbouring community schools?

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Extract from Liberal Democrat policy paper #89 'Equity and Excellence': WE acknowledge that many 'Faith' Schools are in practice open to all of the local community; where they are not we recognise the restriction of the rights of other parents who find that they cannot get their children into a taxpayer-funded school because of a faith requirement.

We are also concerned that faith-based admissions (where that leads to racial and religious segregation of children) could be socially divisive, particularly in the context of the greater ethnic and religious diversity of 21st century Britain. We believe that state funded schools should not be places that reinforce existing divisions within and between communities. We recognise that many faith schools do not apply faith based admissions criteria but are no less faith schools as a result.

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The policy also provides protection for employees of faith schools who currently are not afforded the same protection under anti-discrimination law as staff of other schools. There would be a narrow exemption for staff who are primarily responsible for religious instruction:

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Extract from Liberal Democrat policy paper #89 'Equity and Excellence': WE recognise that all teachers (whatever their beliefs) have a duty to uphold the ethos of the school, but we believe that no teacher should run the risk of having their career options narrowed on the basis of their religious beliefs or their lifestyle. Nor should pupils be denied access to the best teachers as a result of discrimination on the basis of religion. Liberal Democrats have always opposed the exemption that exists in employment law allowing faith schools to reserve a proportion of posts for teachers who profess a specific religion.

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We would bring an end to the requirement for a compulsory act of worship. Where schools choose to continue with assemblies of a religious nature children with sufficient maturity ('Gillick competent') would be able to opt out, and if not their parents can opt out.

We would set down broad guidance on religious education at a national level and ensure that religious education in state funded schools educates young people about people's beliefs and practise in terms of the main religious belief systems. It should not specify what pupils themselves should believe and practise. In addition faith schools would be able to offer religious instruction in their own faith, subject to a similar opt-out as above.

• Praise for the Policy:

"The political tide is turning. It is a recognition that it is not in the best interest of children or society at large for faith schools to use pupil selection and staff employment practices that are discriminatory and divisive. ...this policy is a clear signal that the Lib Dems recognise there is a problem. It is vital for the social harmony of Britain that schools build bridges between different faith communities, not isolate them from each other. Accord welcomes the bravery of the Liberal Democrats in being the first political party to put the national good above sectarian interests."

Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, Chair of Accord

• Humanist & Secularist Liberal Democrats, 102A Cole Park Road Twickenham TW1 1JA