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 Accord Coalition has rejoiced the 150th anniversary this week of the enactment of the University Tests Act 1871, which largely ended religious discrimination at UK universities.
Ofsted has recommended that schools provide high quality Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) as a keyway to tackle sexual harassment and sexual violence.
An Ofsted commissioned opinion poll has found only 6% of parents of school age children in England consider a school’s religious ethos to be an important factor when determining school choice.
A Private Members Bill seeking to remove the obligation on state funded non-faith schools in England to provide daily worship has been brought before the House of Lords.
The Department for Education is to provide financial support for the creation of more Church of England and Catholic academy trusts so that more local authority-maintained Church schools become academies.