Accord has responded to research presented at the Royal Economic Society showing that faith schools increase social segregation and fail improve local results overall. The paper by academics at the London School of Economics and the Institute of Education also argues that it is the privileged intake of faith schools that accounts for their better than average test results.
The study, entitled “Can school competition improve standards? The case of faith schools in England”, tracked 550,000 students in state secondary schools to examine the impact of religious schools on attainment and social stratification. While there was little evidence that faith schools drive up standards, they were found to cause segregation by class, ability and religion.
Commenting on the report, the Chair of Accord Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain said:
“It is a sad situation when children are “sorted” into schools according to the beliefs and socioeconomic status of their parents. This research shows that areas with a high proportion of religious secondary schools educate children no better, but divide them far more. After yet another independent report showing the seriousness of these issues the government must know there is a problem. The question is: when will they act?”
UPDATE: Dr Rebecca Allen, one of the researchers behind the report, has written an article on the Guardian website explaining its significance.
Alex Kennedy is the Coalition Coordinator
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