The Accord Coalition has warned that the Department for Education’s new White Paper ‘Educational Excellence Chair of the Accord Coalition, Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, said ‘Academies do not have to follow a recognised Religious Education curriculum, while the prospect of full academisation presents the risk of community schools coming under a divisive influence by joining mono-religious based academy chains. It is vital that new freedoms are not abused and more scandals like that at the Birmingham schools and a creeping land grab for the minds of children are avoided.’
‘There are a range of safeguards that the Government should introduce. These include giving all pupils an entitlement to broad and balanced
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Faith academy chains are already looking to admit community schools. There are many ways a community school that joins a faith academy chain could come under undue influence. It is possible in such circumstances for future Governors and some senior staff to be appointed on account of whether they adhere to the same religion as the chain, and for the breath of the curriculum and assemblies provided to narrow, so that greater reverence is made towards the beliefs of the chain. Accord is also concerned that such schools could eventually assume a religious character, such as by simply listing as having one in the independent schools register. This would enable schools to openly select by faith in pupil admissions and in the employment of all teachers. Currently state maintained community schools can only become a faith school if the Secretary of State for Education agrees to formally designate the school as having a religious character.
