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Hello,

Welcome to this monthly update from the No More Faith Schools campaign.

Our lead story this month is that more than 132,000 children in England have been assigned faith schools against their parents' preferences since 2014. Across the UK, faith schools undermine choice for tens of thousands of families. If you've been affected by this or any other problem caused by faith schools, please share your story <[link removed]>.

Our talks with local groups are still taking place online, but we're eager to organise a full programme of events in 2021. This can be a great way to energise an existing group or galvanise a new one. It would be fantastic to get a lot more events booked in from April 2021. If you know a group who would be interested, please get in touch <mailto:[email protected]>.

We're trying to increase our content on Instagram (check out our latest video). If you have any pictures using our No More Faith Schools posters or of your own, we'd love to share them.

Finally, thanks everyone for the positive feedback on 20 ways you can support an end to faith schools today. Please let us know how you're getting along with these and if you'd like more activism focused content.

Best wishes,

Alastair Lichten
NMFS campaign coordinator

** News & opinion

* Thousands sent to faith schools against their families’ preferences <[link removed]>

More than 130,000 children have been sent to faith schools in England against their parents' preferences since 2014, the NSS has found.

* How faith schools are spreading without scrutiny or consultation <[link removed]>

A lack of transparency in faith academy proposals is seriously undermining inclusive education, argues Alastair Lichten.

* Let’s scrap discriminatory faith-based school admissions for good <[link removed]>

Faith schools are set to alter their admissions criteria temporarily because places of worship have been closed during the coronavirus crisis. Megan Manson says this should prompt lasting change.

* Council urged to tackle discriminatory school admissions in review <[link removed]>

Liverpool City Council has been urged to consider the impact of discriminatory admissions policies in faith schools in an upcoming review.

** Recent petition comments

"All children deserve a top-quality education to prepare them for a life in which people of all faiths and none, work together for the common good. The best way to achieve this is by ensuring that children are educated together, in schools that promote the common good by non-sectarian teaching."
- Valerie, from BRIGHTON

"Children should grow up together not as part of isolated groups. Faith schools can accentuate feelings of separateness which in turn can breed suspicion and fear."
- Malcolm, from WORCESTER

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