Industry News
Faith schools risk 'failing to promote understanding'
Posted on 11th September 2007
Increasing the number of faith schools runs the risk of failing to promote "inter-cultural understanding", the Association of Schools and College Leaders (ASCL) has said.
The ASCL made its comments following a new paper entitled Faith in the System which was a joint declaration from Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Jewish backers of faith schools.
Children, schools and families secretary Ed Balls said faith schools were popular with many parents and made a "valuable contribution" to education.
The new document highlights the government's and religious groups' commitment to education, he continued.
ASCL's general secretary, Dr John Dunford, said schools were in the "forefront" of promoting community cohesion "especially where there is conflict and lack of understanding in the communities they serve".
He called for a national curriculum for religious education which ensured all schools, faith or otherwise, brought a general understanding of the major faiths to pupils.
Faith schools should act fairly and observe the admissions code, he urged.