In today’s society, it is more important than ever that our children can enjoy a diverse and fair education, and have the chance to learn from each other’s differences. The National Secular Society’s No More Faith Schools campaign is an important step in this direction and provides a platform for those who want an inclusive education to show their support for that.
Dan Snow, Historian, broadcaster and television presenter
I am happy to join the No More Faith Schools campaign. Education must be secular.
Lord Desai, Economist and Labour politician
I support this campaign. There is too much segregation in life. As we live together so we grow through sharing and understanding not by reinforcing a faith or belief or one set of values. Children from all faith and belief backgrounds should be educated together and allowed to develop their own beliefs independently and within the rich communities in which we all have to live.
Lord Cashman CBE
I am a political secularist - I believe the State should adopt a level playing field when it comes to religious belief. Even many religious people now recognise that the State funding of religious schools involves giving special privileges to religious communities that are not afforded to the rest of us. This is unjust, anti-democratic, and should stop.
Stephen Law, Philosopher and author.
I wholeheartedly support the No More Faith Schools campaign. Education should level the playing field despite background and give access to the latest advances in science and human progress and encourage freethought and inquiry whilst religion contradicts and/or discourages all of the above. Children are not extensions of their parents but individuals with human rights. Why must they be divided and segregated based on their parents’ beliefs when no such divisions are acceptable when it comes to parents’ race, sexuality or political opinions. An end to faith schools would mean that we finally see our children as citizens and not as the property of their parents and that we as a society value them more than any faith or belief.
Maryam Namazie, Human rights campaigner
Schools should be inclusive places where children learn new things and mix with kids from other backgrounds. They shouldn't be used as religious recruitment opportunities. Religious indoctrination has no place in schools.
Cathy, from SUTTON
Supporting one faith, particularly in assemblies, in a school undermines respect for those of other faiths or no faiths. The agreed religious curriculum is biased towards having a faith and does not, especially at primary level, provide sufficient teaching materials, teacher training or time to considering life without a faith.
Yvonne, Colchester
I do not see that religion holds any place in defining our education system. I believe all religions should be taught in schools for the purposes of a tolerant and understanding society, but I am not comfortable having the church make important decisions for my childrens' futures.
Hana, Tunbridge Wells
I support the National Secular Society’s campaign to end the segregation and discrimination in our state schools. The idea that we should be segregating children based on the religious beliefs of their parents is wrong, outdated and damaging to our society. It is extraordinary that, in 21st century Britain, we should allow taxpayers’ money to be spent on state schools that discriminate against children based, not on their ability or need or where they live, but simply on their parents’ religious beliefs. While many parents believe faith schools are better than other schools, the evidence is clear that this is simply not true. Only faith schools that use faith as a way to select more academic pupils by the back door get better results. Faith schools serve no purpose other than to divide our children and our communities and they should be consigned to the rubbish bin of history.
Julia Hartley-Brewer, Broadcaster and journalist
How can pupils be expected to take education seriously when religion is involved? If one of the things that is taught is obviously not true, surely that goes against the whole purpose of education!
Jake, from CREWE
Testimonials
Testimonials
Parents’ perspective: Our children shouldn’t suffer because we’re not religious
Posted: Wed, 15 Dec 2021 11:30
The dominance of faith schools in certain areas forces families seeking a local education into impossible...
Parents’ perspective: Our child was sent to a Catholic school despite our clear wishes
Posted: Thu, 23 Sep 2021 11:26
When families are assigned faith schools they don't want, left with no choice or locked out of local...
Parent’s perspective: My daughter has to take Catholic-centric RE – at the expense of other subjects
Posted: Wed, 4 Aug 2021 09:26
My daughter's Catholic school says RE is required for all students, undermining her choices elsewhere....
Head’s perspective: Inappropriate religious inspections enable the C of E to push its agenda
Posted: Fri, 4 Jun 2021 09:36
While faith based inspections of state schools continue, headteachers will continue to play a game which...
Head’s perspective: Church inspections impeded efforts to promote inclusivity and an honest education
Posted: Wed, 19 May 2021 10:33
Our local Church of England diocese used an anachronistic faith-based inspection regime to push its own...
Teacher’s perspective: How C of E schools grew more evangelistic during my career
Posted: Tue, 6 Apr 2021 15:06
After decades of experience as a headteacher and local adviser I became convinced that faith schools...
Parent’s perspective: Playing the faith school admissions game would teach my children the wrong lessons
Posted: Fri, 5 Feb 2021 08:42
Almost all the places at the school my daughter wants to attend are reserved on a religious basis. Jumping...
Parent’s perspective: We made a mistake sending our child to a faith school
Posted: Thu, 26 Nov 2020 11:27
We were unprepared for how strongly a Catholic school would push religion on our child, says Natassa....
Parent’s perspective: My son’s faith school has restricted his subject choices
Posted: Fri, 23 Oct 2020 09:55
By giving special weight to RE, my son's C of E faith school has restricted his options elsewhere, says...
Parents’ perspective: religious discrimination could cost our children places in a suitable school
Posted: Thu, 8 Oct 2020 10:01
Local faith schools' selective policies have created an unseemly competition for places, leaving parents...