No More Faith Schools - April 2019 update

April 2019 update

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Details have begun to emerge of the first 14 new voluntary aided faith schools proposed under a new programme. These schools will potentially be able to practice 100% religious selection of pupils and staff. The No More Faith Schools campaign will be leading the challenge against them. Please check out the details below, and if you have a VA faith school proposal in your area please write to your local council urging them to oppose these divisive plans.

The coming months will be very important for the No More Faith School campaign. We are grateful for everyone who's written to their MP, signed the petition and shared their story. If everyone reading this can take just one or two more actions for the campaign, we can really increase our impact. It's not enough to be right, only activism can create change. If you'd like a speaker or resources for a #NoMoreFaithSchools meeting of your own, please get in touch.

Best wishes,

Alastair Lichten
Education and schools officer – NSS
Campaigner - NMFS

Latest updates

DfE announces applications for new fully selective faith schools

The government has announced details of proposals for 14 new faith schools which could select all their children on the basis of their parents' religion... Read More »

New voluntary aided faith schools: what happens next?

The government has outlined plans for 14 new fully selective faith schools in England. Alastair Lichten explains what is likely to happen next.

This week... Read More »

Faith schools under-represent disadvantaged children, report says

Faith schools – particularly those which perform well academically – under-represent the rates of social disadvantage in their catchment areas... Read More »

Derbyshire parents forced to send children to Catholic school

Parents are being forced to send their children to a Catholic school that belittles non-Catholic families in its official policy and teaches sex and relationships... Read More »

Catholic school chaplain urges drive to recruit pupils into faith

The chaplain of one of Scotland's largest Catholic schools has said it is the school's "duty" to expose children to "everything that is great about the... Read More »

April Fool's Day Story

Government to approve first Jedi faith school

The government is set to announce that a Jedi academy will be among a series of new schools which it plans to open in England.

The secondary school in Bedfordshire,... Read More »

What you can do to get involved:

1. Follow us on social media. Please take a few moments to follow the campaign on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. If you can share a message of support using the hashtag #NoMoreFaithSchools it helps us get the message out and helps others find the campaign. Please use #NoMoreFaithSchools whenever sharing on of our stories, a link to the petition or our main video.

2. Keep us informed. It's always helpful to know how the issues were working on affect real families. We follow new faith school proposals and developments extremely closely, but we can't catch everything. If you can report a new faith school proposal as early as possible, we can do more to help.

3. Share your story. Statistics and theoretical arguments may win some people over, but sharing stories help many more empathise with those affected by faith schools and perhaps rethink their support.

4. Get creative. Please send us a video or photo of you supporting the campaign and let us know why you're saying: "No More Faith Schools!"

5. Get talking. Why not have a chat your friends and family, do they support secular inclusive schools, and they absorb some of the pro faith school myths? Sometimes having a genuine friendly conversation can have a big impact.

6. Get writing. If you haven't already please write to your MP, and if you have please consider a follow-up letter. It's worth writing to your MP even if you live in a UK nation where education is devolved. MPs take up casework and policy issues which go beyond their Westminster role. You can also write to your local representatives asking what they're doing support inclusive education, and while you've got your metaphorical pen out why not send a letter to your local newspaper?

7. Get together. If you're a member of a club or society, why not hold an event discussing faith schools and the need for secular inclusive education system? We can provide advice and resources, and potentially a speaker.

8. Support us financially. NMFS is coordinated by the National Secular Society, which works for the separation of religion and state and equal respect for everyone's human rights. Running a leading campaign of this scale takes resources and there's still so much more we can do. If you're able to, please consider supporting the NSS from just £1 a month, or joining from £2 a month. One off donations are also gratefully received.