NO - Terry Sanderson, vice president, National Secular Society
It would signal the start of a parallel education system in thiscountry, based on religion. It would lead to an inferior education forgirls (several private Muslim schools have been criticised by Ofsted forthis) and demands for other Islam-compliant opt outs - such as no maleteachers for girls and compulsory veiling. The existence of single faithschools is divisive enough, but that division will be compounded if theyare permitted to separate themselves even more with this system ofself-regulation.
NO BUT - Canon John Hall, Church of England Under current legislationOfsted inspects faith schools. But Ofsted does not inspect thespecifically religious aspects of school life. This is done by"denominational" inspectors. Both, however, assess the contribution theschool makes to the spiritual and moral development of its pupils.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
