The Accord Coalition has urged the Welsh Government to require those considering proposals to reorganise the structure of schools in a given local area to take into account the impact of changes upon community cohesion.
Responding yesterday to the Government’s consultation on the wording of its Schools Organisation Code, Accord pointed out the profound effect that school’s policies and ethos can make on both improving and undermining cohesiveness in society. It also noted that requiring those who decide the outcome of school re-organisation proposals to consider the impact upon community would complement the Welsh Government’s existing commitments to improve community cohesion, as well as to empower those officials with concerns in this area to act upon them.
Chair of the Accord Coalition, Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain MBE, said ‘Accord would like schools to be as diverse as the area from which they draw their pupils, as we believe mutual understanding will best flourish through a shared civic life, and as we view mutual understanding as vital to the future wellbeing and happiness of society. It is on this basis that we urge the Government to accept our suggested revisions, to help ensure that schools acts as engine rooms for respect, trust and cohesiveness in Wales.’
