In the last week the #NoMoreFaithSchools campaign has continued to grow. We've
received positive feedback on our guide to challenging new faith schools, we've
started sending out posters and have received our first supporter message via YouTube.
As always it's great to hear from so many different people about why they are supporting the campaign, and I'm grateful for all those sharing their personal
experiences. So many of you have shared how you've been motivated by your politics, values, faith or beliefs, or a simple sense of fairness to oppose the
segregation, discrimination and proselytization wrought by faith schools.
Faith based schools are often justified as 'religious freedom'. But supporters like you
know that genuine religious freedom means an education system free from religious favouritism or discrimination, where children are free to form their own
beliefs.
The tide of public opinion is turning against faith schools, and there are even some (limited) signs that politicians are starting to wake up to this, as seen by
the decision to keep the 50%
cap. There's also some less encouraging news below on the Scottish government increasing funding for Catholic teachers, and a risk that the Welsh government
will continue allowing faith schools to distort SRE.
The faith school lobby may be loud, but we can set out a positive vision based on freedom, fairness and equality. This campaign is here for the long haul. I hope
you are too.
Best wishes,
Alastair Lichten
Education and schools officer
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