Faith schools shouldn’t get special treatment

Since 1997, faith schools have been peddled as a way to deliver high quality education – first by Blair, and now by Cameron and Gove. Sure, they may get impressive results. But to judge them on that basis alone ignores the gross unfairness, elitism and favouritism that lie at their heart.  

As a state funded institution, faith schools should have the same selection policy as any other state school. The discrimination on the basis of faith at entrance denies many pupils the opportunity to get a high quality education. This is hardly in line with the message of “parental choice” repeated again and again by the political mainstream. If faith schools want to continue their elitist selection procedures, they should become private enterprises. But whilst part of the state system, they should follow the same procedures as any other state school.

The discrimination centres around affluence as well as faith. Research from the LSE shows that only 17 percent of faith school pupils are on Free School Meals versus 25 percent in non religious schools.