Accord is a wide coalition of organisations, including religious groups, humanists, trade unions and human rights campaigners. We share a common view on many issues to do with state-funded schools and believe that the current legislation on faith schools in particular is counter-productive.
We campaign to make admissions and recruitment policies in all state-funded schools free from discrimination on grounds of religion or belief.
We want schools to follow an objective, fair and balanced syllabus for education about religious and non-religious beliefs.
We want accountability under a single inspection regime for Religious Education, Personal, Social & Health (PSHE) education and Citizenship.
We believe all schools should provide their pupils with inclusive, inspiring and stimulating assemblies in place of compulsory acts of worship.
The Government of one of the few countries that permits religious discrimination by state funded schools has set out ideas for reform. If enacted, the proposals will make faith schools policy in England and Wales even more anomalous.
The Catholic Education Service of England and Wales is to support a judicial review of recent rulings from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator that have found against aspects of the Certificate of Catholic Practice.
Several new and insightful pieces of information have this week been added to Accord's databank of evidence on the policy implications of state funded faith schools and their practices.