Today’s annual report by the Schools’ Adjudicator, Dr Ian Craig, has highlighted how faith schools are continuing to illegally select pupils based on class and ability. They did so by asking pupils to describe their hobbies – giving extra points for those engaged in bell-ringing – and also asking them questions about their parents income.
Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, the Chair of the Accord Coalition which links both religious and secular schools concerned about the impact of faith schools on society, expressed amazement at the findings.
‘It is astonishing that, after being condemned by the government inspectors two years ago for using underhand methods to select pupils, faith schools are still doing so. You would have expected faith schools to desist from something that is both illegal and immoral. It also gives credence to the accusation that many faith schools are operating as covert grammar schools and are more interested in attracting wealthy pupils than serving the local community’.
Notes
The Office of the Schools Adjudicator annual report for the period from September 2009 to August 2010 can be read at http://www.schoolsadjudicator.gov.uk/RMS_upload/Annual%20Report%202009-103.pdf.
