Stephen's views on Faith Schools

I share concerns regarding the expansion and exclusivity of faith schools whilst recognising that many of these schools have proved both popular and successful. They are often over subscribed and they achieve higher than average points scores at both GCSE and A level. St Mary Redcliffe C of E school would be a good example in Bristol. It has never been Liberal Democrat policy to have faith schools removed from state funding. Our schools system owes much to the provision by the Anglican, Non-conformist and Roman Catholic Churches of both primary and secondary schools, which exist due to political compromises made when the state took significant roles in education in 1870 and 1902. In addition one has to accept the logic of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 that allowed other faiths access to state funding for their own schools. However these schools must comply with the national requirements that are placed on all non-faith schools, namely the teaching of the national curriculum and a fair admissions policy.

I question the rationale behind any expansion of faith schools if they are to become more exclusive. It is worrying that parents are turning to faith schools as a negative choice in order to avoid poor performing local schools. The cornerstone of any education policy should be that all children have access to good schools. Some parents are prepared to put themselves and their children through a rigid 'faith' test; and this process of selection ensures one of the most vital ingredients for a successful school - parental support. Interestingly, church attendance declines rapidly when places have been secured, and where church schools are performing less well, over-subscription is rarely the case.

Another critical area of concern, given the current state of global affairs, is the segregation of children by faith, ethnicity and race for their education. We should not continue down this road without carefully considering the consequences for the future of our society. However, twenty first century Britain has many more faiths than when Victorian and Edwardian politicians laid down the laws governing the state funding of primary and secondary schools that persist to this day. For as long as state funding supports Christian and Jewish schools, it would be iniquitous to deny funding to more recent British faiths, most notably Islam. There is a growing pressure for an Islamic school in Bristol. A privately funded school has recently opened. The Local Education Authority will have to handle an inevitable plea for state support with great sensitivity.