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National Secular Society

It's been three weeks since we launched the No More Faith Schools campaign and I've been overwhelmed with the response. Every week I read through thousands of petition comments – you can read some of them highlighted in Faith schools: reducing the harm isn't enough. It's great to see people sharing their stories and such support for a positive vision of an inclusive education system free from faith schools.

{contact.first_name} can you commit to doing just one more thing to help the campaign? There are lots of ways you can get involved. Even if it's as simple as following us on Twitter, every action helps.

- Write to your MP: MPs consistently overestimate support for faith schools. We have a template letter to help you lobby your MP on this issue. Whatever their stance, knowing their constituents want inclusive education with No More Faith Schools is important.

- Contact your local representative: In addition to your local MP, please ask your local representatives what they are doing to support inclusive education and oppose the expansion of faith schools in your area. Remember also that education is a devolved issue.

- Share your story: Are you a teacher, parent or pupil that has been affected by faith schools? It's not enough just to make the principled case against faith schools, we need to show how real people are affected by them and that an inclusive education system is better.

- Share the facts: A lot of pro-faith school myths are believed even by those that would rather an inclusive education system. Help us take these on directly by sharing the Faith School Myth Buster. Let us know if you encounter any other common myths.

- Share your support: Make sure you're following us on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and send us a message saying why you support #NoMoreFaithSchools. Why not download or create your own poster with your message?

- Build the coalition: If you are a member of a political, religious, belief, community or social group that should be supporting the principles of fairness and equality behind #NoMoreFaithSchools, please contact that organisation and encourage them to become a supporter.

We are proud to campaign for a fair and inclusive education system that will help to create a fair and inclusive society. Thank you for your support.

Best wishes,

Alastair Lichten
Education and schools officer
National Secular Society

P.S. this message was sent to the No More Faith Schools mailing list. If you've joined the mailing list but haven't signed the national petition, you can do so here.

 

FORMER EDUCATION SECRETARY CRITICISES PLAN TO EXPAND FAITH-BASED ADMISSIONS

The former education secretary Justine Greening has criticised government plans to allow more discriminatory faith-based school admissions in England, prompting calls for an "urgent rethink".

 

MOST FAITH SCHOOLS DISTORTING SEX EDUCATION, STUDY FINDS

More than three-quarters of state-funded secondary faith schools in England are failing to teach Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) impartially, a report has found.

 

STATE FUNDED RELIGIOSITY INSPECTIONS OF FAITH SCHOOLS HAVE TO END

One of the myths our campaign aims to expose is that 'church schools' aren't really faith schools. In fact every C of E faith school is inspected to ensure it is promoting a religious ethos. The National Secular Society (NSS) has written to the DfE criticising the C of E's latest inspection guidelines, which place a greater emphasis on theology and framing shared values as exclusively Christian.

 

FAITH SCHOOLS: WHY REDUCING THE HARM ISN’T ENOUGH

Alastair Lichten says the long-term battle is over the fact faith groups run schools at all.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

I'm a Christian but I believe faith schools cause big problems in society. They cause segregation in our schools, reduce school choice for parents, and it is so much better for children to learn together, mixing with all children in their community. It is wrong that children are turned away from a school, or prioritised for entry based on what their parents happen to do on a Sunday!

Joanne, from Whitstable

See more supporter comments.

Write to your MP Campaign Locally Myth Buster