No new faith school in Knockloughrim and Newry

The OneSchool Global Network run by the Plymouth Brethren is asking for two of its private schools to become state funded. It is proposed that the two schools (57 miles drive apart) will be organised as a non-selective, 11-18, voluntary grammar (Category B) school. With 100 pupils across both sites it will be well below the minimum viable number of pupils (500 for post-primary).

The proposal aims to: "Preserve and protect our children from anything that would be against the OSG ethos which is based on Christianity and adherence to the teachings of the Holy Bible". It would not be religiously selective, but the faith school "ethos will be faith based in accordance with the Plymouth Brethren religious community".

Update 3 March 2020: After we wrote to the Department of Education to object to these plans, the Education Authority has said it cannot support them either. Read more...

Update 27 April 2021: The consultation period for this proposal has now closed. We are awaiting a decision from the Department of Education.

An insular religious community with a history of serious safeguarding failures is not well placed to run a state school. The Education Authority should not be spending taxpayers' money on helping it to do so, but on investing in education for the whole community.

Like other small religious minorities in Northern Ireland, Plymouth Brethren parents don't want to send their children to state faith schools where a Catholic or other Protestant ethos may be imposed against their convictions. But the solution is not to fragment the education system with more minority faith schools, but to redouble efforts to build an integrated schools system.

No More Faith Schools is a national campaign coordinated by the National Secular Society and with supporters from a broad social, political and religious spectrum. We're dedicated to an end to state funded faith schools. We would like all schools to be truly integrated, with an inclusive community ethos, free from any religious discrimination, privilege or control.

We help people challenge new faith schools, particularly where they have discriminatory admissions rules and where there are proposals for inclusive alternatives.

The consultation period for this proposal has now closed. We are awaiting a decision from the Department of Education. In the meantime, you can write to your MLA.