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.
PUBLIC ENQUIRIES:
0870 000 2288
info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
INTERNET ADDRESS :
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/findoutmore
If you would like to receive email notification of new press
notices in the subjects of your choice, please click on
'register' on our site: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk,
'Latest News'.