Hello,

The government's plans to open more faith schools continues unabated. The latest details published on proposed academies reveal nineteen new academies with religious designations on the cards. We'll be keeping a close watch on these plans.

Meanwhile, we've been very active on our local campaigns...

1. We've warned Surrey County Council: Don't turn your community school into a faith school

We've spoken out against Surrey County Council's proposal to close Englefield Green Infant School and Nurseries community school, and reopen the site as a voluntary aided Church of England faith school with "a distinctly Christian ethos". Read more here...

The National Secular Society, which co-ordinates No More Faith Schools, submitted a response to the council's consultation on the plans. You can read the response here. A big thank you to all Surrey residents who also submitted a response; we'll be watching to see what the council does next.

Our opposition to the plans was reported in iNews, and NSS CEO Stephen Evans was interviewed by BBC Surrey.

2. Challenge to Hampton Water Catholic School rejected

Earlier this month, No More Faith Schools campaigner Megan Manson joined locals and councillors in formally challenging Peterborough City Council's plans to open a new Catholic School in Hampton Water. Despite strong opposition to the proposal, the council voted to reject our appeal, which means the plans are now set to go ahead. Read more here...

Naturally, we're all deeply disappointed by the outcome. But media interest around the issue has certainly generated awareness about faith schools and why so many people oppose them. The Peterborough Telegraph reported on the Hampton Water school, and Megan was interviewed by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire explaining why we oppose the plans. Sky News will also run a feature on the school on their Breakfast programme on Sunday Morning.

You can watch a clip of Megan's statement to Peterborough City Council here.

3. Inverclyde Council consulting on plan to add 'faith testing' to admissions

Following opposition from the No More Faith Schools campaign and others, Inverclyde Council has ruled out plans to convert a local non-denominational primary school into a Catholic school, open a new Catholic school, or remove non-denominational village schools as feeder schools for denominational secondary schools.

But they are planning to change admissions rules so that only pupils with a Catholic baptism certificate can be automatically allowed to transfer into Catholic secondaries from the local non-denominational primary schools. They are now consulting on these plans.

While it's positive that the council do not want to expand Catholic schooling, it is disappointing that they still plan to introduce more 'faith testing' into admissions. Another council in Scotland has similar plans. We'll be responding to the council expressing relief that they aren't extending Catholic schooling, but also urging them to re-consider adding an extra barrier to children who aren't Catholic. We encourage Inverclyde residents to respond as well; you can do so here.

Thank you as always for your support - and let us know anytime if you spot plans to open a new faith school in your area.

Best wishes,

No More Faith Schools

P.S. Earlier this month the chair of the NSS teachers' forum, Dr. Keith Sharpe, delivered a lecture on the legacy of the 1944 Education Act, which bought hundreds of faith schools into the state sector. A video of the event is available to watch here.