Bishop Gillett: “the future health of our society in the whole of the UK depends on an education system in which our schools fully reflect the diversity of the communities in which they are placed”.
David Gillett, the former Bishop of Bolton, has become the Accord Coalition’s latest Distinguished Supporter. Explaining his decision to join Bishop David told Accord ‘For several years I worked in a reconciliation centre in Northern Ireland and saw there the enormous problems of segregated sectarian education. It fired in me the passion for full and free participation in education for all children and young people without testing or distinction.’
‘I believe that the future health of our society in the whole of the UK depends on an education system in which our schools fully reflect the diversity of the communities in which they are placed. Our government and society as a whole has a duty to our children and young people to provide schools that are open and welcoming to all without distinction of religion, ethnicity, class, social standing, or sexual orientation.’
Chair of the Accord Coalition, the Revd Stephen Terry, said ‘Bishop Gillett is absolutely right to highlight the importance of diversity and openness within schools for laying the foundations for an inclusive society. It is a future people of all different religions and beliefs want, and something our school system can help guarantee, but if it is to achieved we must work together to ensure these lessons are not ignored. I am delighted Bishop Gillett has decided to support Accord’s campaign and so strengthen its collective voice.’
The Bishop joins Accord’s list of Distinguished Supporters, who come from varying professional and other backgrounds, but are united in wishing state funded schools to be inclusive and non-discriminatory. The list includes:
- Professor Jim Al-Khalili OBE, theoretical physicist, author and Science broadcaster
- Lord Baker of Dorking, former Education Secretary (1986-1989)
- Professor Ted Cantle CBE, national expert on community cohesion and inter-cultural relations
- Professor Becky Francis, Director of the Institute of Education
- Professor A.C. Grayling, philosopher and author
- Fiona Millar, education campaigner
- Philip Pullman, author
- Sir Richard Roberts, Nobel Laureate
- Polly Toynbee, journalist and writer
