The Prime Minister has made clear that the Government is dedicated to making Britain a true meritocracy and that education lies at the heart of that mission. The Government has recently published a consultation that asks for views on a range of proposals aimed at creating an education system that extends opportunity for everyone, not just the privileged few.
At present, the stark reality is that demand for good school places only continues to grow, and too many children in this country still do not have access to a good school. The proposals that have been put forward look to deliver an even more diverse school system that gives all children, whatever their background, the opportunity to achieve their potential.
Faith schools have a strong record of high pupil attainment and are often very popular with parents. Current rules, however, stop more good faith schools from opening, without succeeding in promoting integration. The proposals would see the current cap on the number of pupils who can be admitted on the basis of faith when the school is oversubscribed removed, as the cap is preventing new Catholic schools opening, and has little impact on many Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu schools because they tend not to appeal to parents of other faiths.
This rule will be replaced with more effective requirements to ensure faith schools are properly inclusive, and allow more good schools to open. I can assure that the Government will ensure that safeguards are in place to promote diversity and inclusivity in faith schools, so that pupils of all faiths and none are able to play a full part in the life of the school.
The vast majority of faith schools are high-performing schools. They are more likely to be rated good or outstanding by Ofsted than non-faith schools and consistently achieve higher performance in exam results. Pupils from poorer backgrounds perform better at faith schools than at other schools.
Despite free schools currently being limited to admitting a maximum of 50 per cent of their pupils on the basis of faith when oversubscribed, this has not resulted in a mixed ethnic intake. In minority faith schools (Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and Hinduism) the ethnic make-up is formed of pupils from predominantly similar ethnic (and very likely religious) backgrounds. By contrast, Catholic schools have a far better record on diversity, but have not opened any new faith schools since the 50 per cent rule was imposed, because they said it contravenes religious rules.
Given the evidence that the 50 per cent rule does not promote diversity, the Government is proposing to remove these limits and replace them with a series of strengthened safeguards to promote inclusivity.
Nonetheless, this policy is still in a consultation period and proposes the following requirements for new faith schools, in exchange for abolishing the 50 per cent cap:
Prove there is demand for school places from parents of other faiths;
- Establish twinning arrangements with other schools not of their faith
- Consider setting up mixed-faith multi-academy trust, including becoming a sponsor for underperforming non-faith schools
- Consider placing an independent member or director who is of a different faith or no faith at all on the governing body of new faith free schools.
The Government's consultation is asking for views from teachers, children and parents. If you would like to make your views known, you can do so online before 12 December. Visit https://consult.education.gov.uk/school-frameworks/schools-that-work-for-everyone.
However, with regards to the Government’s plans for our education system, other plans have also been put forward regarding selective education. Since 2010, the Government’s reforms have had a transformational effect on education in this country. There are now 1.4 million more children in good or outstanding schools. I welcome that the Government is continuing in its ambitious reform so that every child has the best possible start in life.
I am clear, as is the Government that relaxation restrictions on selective education can and should be to the betterment, not at the expense, of other local schools. Changes will happen where there is local demand, and the Government will consider measures to maintain school diversity, so every child can have the opportunity to succeed.