On Tuesday the House of Commons debated amendments to the Equality Bill that would greatly improve the situation for teachers in state-funded faith schools.
The amendments—tabled by the Lib Dems and supported by Accord—sought change the law so that teachers in faith schools would enjoy the same protections against religious discrimination as other employees in organisations with a religious character.
In principle, Accord is opposed to all discrimination against staff in state funded schools on the grounds of their beliefs, religious or otherwise. However, we believe that many people would be horrified to discover the fact that teachers in state funded schools have fewer rights than those working in religious charities when it comes to religious discrimination.
Whereas almost all other employers have to show that discrimination is an “occupational requirement” of a particular post, faith schools can impose a blanket requirement that all teachers be co-religionists, or that believers are “preferred”. This extends not only to recruitment, but to pay and promotion – meaning that teachers may see their career options limited because of their religious beliefs, or lack of them.
Worse still, any teacher at a voluntary aided faith school—which are the majority of state-funded religious schools—can be dismissed for “conduct…incompatible with the precepts, or with the upholding of the tenets of the religion” of the school. This can include private conduct, and at least one case has been reported of a head teacher being forced out of his post for marrying a divorcee: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jul/22/headteacher-remarry-forced-resignation
Accord believes that it is vitally important for the law to be changed so that teachers at the very least have the same legal protections as employees in private organisations with a religious ethos.
If you are interested in finding out more details about the issue then please read our briefing here: https://accordcoalition.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Accord-Report-Stage-Employment-Briefing.pdf
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