NSS - Campaigning For Secular Education
One of the National Secular Society’s primary aims is the secularisation of Britain’s education system. We want all state-funded 'faith schools' returned to community control and all religious entry requirements or discrimination against staff abolished. This, we recognise, would be a major undertaking, but one that is increasingly urgent.
NSS Essays and Submissions on Education
Sex Education
Our submission to the DSCF on sex education and the problems in faith schools.
Our submission to NICE on sex education and faith schools July 2010.
The Impact of Religious Schools on Teachers. A paper prepared for education conference entitled Faith Schools: Freedom of Choice or Recipe for Division? Their Impact on Education and Wider Society at Windsor Castle, 13 – 14 November 2009
Religious Schools by Keith Porteous Wood appeared in Keeping the Faith?, published by the NASUWT teaching union in March 2008.
NSS submission to NUT Faith Schools Working Party. A synopsis of Evidence given by National Secular Society to the NUT Working Party on Faith Schools, 7 February 2007.
The bigger picture - Guardian Education Weekly
This article, written by NSS President Terry Sanderson, argues that schools need a more balanced and secular approach to teaching religion. It appeared in the Guardian on 2 November 2004.
Education: NSS Press Releases
21 December 2009
Teachers should not be allowed to evangelise in pupil’s homes– Olive Jones case
14 November 2009
NSS demands repeal of legislation discriminating against non-religious teachers
18 February 2009
NSS welcomes the launch of AHS Student Organisation
7 November 2008
Government must crack down on creationists in science classes
15 October 2008
Minority faith schools will be a disaster for cohesion
12 September 2008
Intolerant religious dogma has no place in science class
11 July 2008
NSS Calls on Government not to Destroy the Promotion Prospects of Thousands of Teachers
14 May 2008
Legal Action Threatened Over Religion In Schools
3 April 2008
School Admissions: Religious Discrimination Should Be Outlawed And Fines Imposed
24 September, 2007
Government Helps Church Retain Stranglehold On Education
10 September, 2007
The Public Don't Want More Faith Schools, And They Will Be Divisive
16 July, 2007
Silver Ring Thing: Victory For Common Sense
11 May, 2007
Blair’s legacy is a religious time bomb
7 May, 2007
Secularists Will Challenge Threat To Stop R E Withdrawal
Also see: NSS in the media
Research
Dossier of Independent Evidence on Faith Schools (2009
Produced by the Accord Coalition, this document is intended to help researchers, journalists, campaigners and members of the public to find information about the policy implications of state funded faith schools and their practices.
September 2009
Can school competition improve standards? The case of faith schools in England
This research presented by the London School of Economics and the Institute of Education found that Faith schools fail to improve standards and create "social sorting" of children along lines of class, ability and religion. The research found no evidence that providing parents with the choice of a religious secondary school either raised results or helped drive up standards in other local schools.
April 2009ESRC Research: Diversity in primary schools promotes harmony
This research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), shows that children who go to primary schools that have pupils from different ethnic and religious backgrounds find it easier to integrate and have higher self-esteem than those who go to schools where everyone comes from the same background. This new evidence reinforces the dangers posed by encouraging ever more single-faith schools.
July 2008
Living Apart Together – British Muslims and the paradox of multiculturalism
This Policy Exchange report by Munira Mirza, Abi Senthilkumaran and Zein Ja'far explores the attitudes of Muslims in Britain today and the reasons why there has been a significant rise in Islamic fundamentalism amongst the younger generation.
October 2007
Religious Schools in London: School Admissions, Religious Composition and Selectivity?
Paper presented by Rebecca Allen of the Institute of Education, University of London and Anne West from the Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science to British Educational Research Association Conference in London.
September 2007
Number of Schools by status and religious character
Around a third of our education system, mostly in the primary sector, is under the control of religious bodies. Here we provide a breakdown of all maintained primary and secondary schools in England by status and religious character.
January 2007
Social Capital, Diversity and Education Policy
Research from London South Bank University carried out by Professor Irene Bruegel, professor of Urban Policy. The research shows that the only way to achieve full integration is for everyone to be educated together from primary stage.
August 2006
