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Faith in the Education System

DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2007/0160) issued by The Government News Network on 10 September 2007

Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faith school backers today, for the first time, unveiled a joint declaration and shared vision of schools with a religious character in 21st century England.

In 'Faith in the System,' the Government and religious groups providing schools "confirm our commitment to continue to work together and with schools with and without a religious character to improve the life chances of children, to build bridges to greater mutual trust and understanding and to contribute to a just and cohesive society."

The document also aims to dispel some of the common myths and misunderstanding around schools with a religious character and seeks to promote greater respect of the differences between different faiths and different types of schools.

Speaking at the launch event at the British Library, Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls said:

"For hundreds of years faith groups have had a long and noble tradition at the heart of our education system - from medieval times, through the Reformation, to the present day. Today, around one third of the total schools have a religious character.

"I fully recognise that faith schools are popular with many parents and make a valuable contribution to the way in which this country educates its children.

"Faith in the System is a ground breaking document representing the Government's and religious groups' commitment to ensuring that every child, wherever they start in life, gets to experience the best our education system has to offer."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said:

"I very much welcome the clear commitment to the role of faith-based schools within the system of education in this country which the government is affirming. The more that religious schools form an integral part of our overall educational provision, the better the chances of educating all students sensitively in what it actually feels like to share convictions of faith.

"Church of England schools are proud of their distinctive ethos: they offer not a programme of indoctrination, but the possibility of developing a greater level of community cohesion through the understanding of how faith shapes common life. This matters for the lives of individuals, whether they are believers or not - because the failure to understand how faith operates leaves us at sea in engaging with our neighbours at local and global level."

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O' Connor, said:

"I welcome the Government's very public recognition of the contribution made by faith schools to the harmony of our society as a whole.

"An ongoing partnership between the Catholic Church and the Government based on the right of Catholic parents - under the Human Rights Act - to choose a Catholic education for their children is a proven way of forming youngsters as good British citizens of the future.

"I welcome this Vision Statement and the support of the Government for faith communities in this educational endeavour."

Henry Grunwald, QC, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said

"This is an important document - one that needs to be read again and again by elected officials, the media and anyone interested in the health of education in Britain. 'Faith in the System' goes a long way towards dispelling the myths, preconceived notions and negative stereotypes surrounding faith schools and demonstrates their role in ensuring that British society continues to aspire to the highest ideals of toleration and mutual respect."

Dr Mohamed Mukadam, Chairman of the Association of Muslim Schools UK, said:

"The 'Faith in the System' initiative presents a historic opportunity for all faith schools to work collaboratively and help British young people develop a better and deeper understanding of God and utilise this knowledge to become successful individuals.

"Any person with a genuine interest in the well-being of our nation will see this document as a step towards creating a more cohesive society where people of all races, faiths and cultures will live together in harmony and contribute positively to the social, political and economic well-being of their country."

Dr Indarjit Singh, Director of the Network of Sikh Organisations, said:

"We are delighted to welcome this important document emphasising the commitment of faith-based schools and government to work together to promote tolerance and understanding. Its message echoes Guru Nanak's teaching that our different religions are different paths to an understanding of God, and that all should be respected. The Gurus showed this respect by adding verses of Hindu and Muslim saints in our holy scriptures the Guru Granth Sahib. This respect for other faiths also permeates the curriculum and ethos of the first voluntary aided primary and secondary Sikh schools in Hayes. Respect is the binding force for true community cohesion and on behalf of all Sikhs we welcome this initiative."

Nitesh Gor, Director of I-Foundation, said:

"The Hindu community is the latest entrant to state-funded faith education; as such, we have much to learn from our fellow faith education providers. Collaboration amongst the different faiths towards the Faith in the System declaration provides a firm foundation upon which new entrants like us can ensure best practise. We feel honoured to have been able to contribute to this document, and believe that this initiative indicates a bright future for faith schools in a multi-cultural, multi-faith society - and not least for the very first Hindu state-aided faith school to be launched in 2008."

Schools with a religious character play an integral part in the publicly-funded school system and in society.

* Around a third of all maintained schools have a religious character, approximately 6,850 schools from a total of nearly 21,000. Around 600 are secondary schools with the remainder being primary schools. The great majority are Church of England and Roman Catholic.

* The remainder comprise of 37 Jewish schools; seven Muslim schools; two Sikh schools; one Greek Orthodox and one Seventh Day Adventist school.

* A further 13 faith schools have been approved to open over the next two years. They include one Jewish, three Muslim and one Sikh, two Church of England and two Church of England / Methodist.

* Of the 83 Academies now open, 27 have a faith designation - 16 are non-denominational Christian, eight Church of England, two Catholic and one Anglican/Roman Catholic.

* All maintained schools and Academies, including those with a religious character, must act in accordance with the Admissions Code, a system where all children, regardless of their background, have a fair opportunity of gaining a place at the school they want to attend. The law rules out interviewing and prevents the new introduction of selection by ability. Only when a faith school is oversubscribed can it start to give priority to pupils who practice their faith or denomination.

* Many faith schools choose to give some of their places to children of no faith or other faiths. The Church of England has announced that at least 25 per cent of places in their new schools will be available as community places.

* All future faith Academies, unless directly replacing a faith school, will give priority to at least 50 per cent of places to pupils from other faiths or no faith.

* All maintained schools, including those with a religious character, must teach the National Curriculum.

* Faith schools are often highly diverse. At secondary schools, 21 per cent of children in faith schools have a minority ethnic background compared to 17 per cent at schools without a religious character. At primary schools, 18 per cent of children in faith schools have a minority ethnic background compared to 24 per cent at primary schools without a religious character.

* All schools now have a duty to promote community cohesion.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Faith in the System can be found at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/

2. The Government is committed to supporting parents where possible to obtain a place for their child at the school of their choice. Faith schools are one way to create a more diverse system where schools have a distinct specialism, mission and ethos. The Government does not have a blanket policy of building more faith schools or more non-faith schools but supports schools with a religious character where this is what the local community wants.

3. The Government supports independent schools joining the state sector when parents, a school and local community want it. There are nearly 15,000 Muslim children and around 11,000 Jewish children whose parents chose to send them to independent schools with a particular religious character. All Muslim schools in the state sector were previously independent schools.

5. Between 1811 and 1860 the Church of England founded 17,000 schools. The first Jewish school for the poor was set up in 1732. From 1852 the Catholic Bishops have worked to make available schools for all Catholic children regardless of their parents' ability to pay, wherever possible.

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