Concerns over plans for two new religious schools

A new Hindu school, Avanti, and a new Muslim school, Al Noor, could be coming to Redbridge, but East London’s Humanists are worried they could exclude children of other faiths.

Nationally, the Government has plans for fourteen new voluntary aided faith schools which it announced on March 26.

These schools are run separately from council input but are funded by taxpayers. Usually, a trust will contribute to building costs and has a substantial influence on how the school is run.

The majority of governors for this type of school are chosen by the trust, pupils follow the National Curriculum and the trust can set the school’s admissions criteria.

But thanks to legislation brought in by the coalition government in May 2010, 50 per cent of school places at these schools must be kept available for children of different faiths and no faith at all.

Humanists are worried that existing plans for the Avanti and Al Noor schools do not adhere to this legislation.

The group fears the schools will be allowed to discriminate by allowing entry only to those children whose parents are from their respective faiths.

They say the new schools will also be able to discriminate on religious grounds when choosing which teachers to employ and their school Governors.

In the past, concerns about such schools have been expressed across the political spectrum and by a range of religious groups.

People want to ensure state funded schools are open and suitable for all children, regardless of their or their parents’ religious or non-religious beliefs.

Paul Kaufman, chairman of East London Humanists, said: “We strongly support freedom of religion and belief. However it is not the role of the state to fund religious schools or to endorse and promote a divisive school system.

“We celebrate the diversity of East London. The best way of ensuring understanding and harmony between our communities is for our children to live, learn and play together as they grow up. The Government plans represent a huge step backwards.”

East London Humanists are due to hold a meeting to consider the plans at Wanstead Library on Monday April 8 from 7.30pm.

The meeting will be led by Dr Ruth Wareham, who leads the education campaign team at Humanists UK

Dr Wareham said: “I am motivated by the firm conviction — cultivated through my career as a teacher and academic researcher— in the importance of inclusive, non-partisan education which fully respects the rights and interests of children to form their own religion or belief.

“My research has led me to conclude that the problem of religious schools is one of the greatest problems in British life today.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The voluntary aided capital scheme is not just for faith groups and its purpose is to promote choice and diversity in the system.

“It will enable faith and other groups to open new schools that will offer more choice for parents where there is demand and give more children – regardless of their background – access to the best possible education.

“All applicants for the scheme will need to demonstrate how they will promote community cohesion in order to be successful for funding. Applications to the scheme, which closed in February, are currently being considered.”

Redbridge Council was contacted for comment.

The Al Noor Foundation and Avanti Schools Trust, the organisations which will run the two schools respectively, were also contacted for comment.