Having problems with this newsletter? View it in your browser

National Secular Society

Hello,

We'd like to thank the supporters who have continued to sign our petition, spread our message, and provide us with information in these difficult times.

Regretfully, we have had to cancel more events (see website for details) – though we are exploring possible online events and are hoping for an even bigger programme of local talks next year.

On 16 April primary school offers went out in England. We hope those of you affected got your preferred options. But we also know, as the National Secular Society's Choice Delusion project found, that many families are forced into faith schools against their wishes or locked out of their nearest school by discriminatory admissions. Megan Manson highlights some of the discrimination, inconvenience and unfairness caused by faith school admissions in her blog below.

We've also placed plenty of focus on Northern Ireland this month. See below for our report on the implications of the 'New Decade, New Approach' deal for education, and my blog on the potential bright future for integrated education.

Along with that blog, we've launched five new local campaigns to support school integration. We've made some major changes to the site to make it easier for supporters to find and support local NMFS campaigns. We're aiming for every faith school proposal to have a local campaign for an inclusive alternative. With your support we can see make this a reality.

Finally, we'd like to thank all those who've sent in testimonials, please keep them coming – they can be a powerful way to communicate the importance of our campaign.

Stay safe. Best wishes,

Alastair Lichten
NMFS campaign coordinator

  

News & opinion

 

Discrimination, inconvenience, unfairness: The harm caused by faith school admissions

Recent examples from ombudsman reports demonstrate the absurdity of prioritising pupils for admissions and free transport on a religious basis, says Megan Manson.

 

Is Northern Ireland set to move away from religious segregation in schools?

The idea that children should be educated together regardless of their religious background is gaining welcome support both at government and grassroots level in NI, writes Alastair Lichten.

 

Make Northern Ireland’s schools integrated and secular, say MLAs

Members of NI's legislative assembly from a variety of parties have called for children to be educated together in integrated schools.

  

Support the campaign with a quick tweet

  
Write to your MP Campaign Locally Myth Buster