Religious schools cheating and failing, but they keep on opening
Editorial by Terry Sanderson
As the NSS has been saying all along, when left to their own devices, “faith schools” can’t be trusted to operate a fair admissions policy. Not content with the special privileges they have (given by parliament), they cheat repeatedly.
This week, the schools adjudicator revealed that the level of complaints he is receiving from parents who accuse schools of cheating has rocketed. In the past two months, his office has settled 111 cases – more than in the whole of the previous academic year.
The figures show that many schools have failed to fully implement the government’s new code on admissions, which outlaws interviewing pupils and asking about jobs or parents’ incomes. Unsurprisingly, more than half of those schools found to be breaking the code were “faith schools”.
The Local Government Association, which represents Council leaders, has called for a veto on faith schools operating their own admission policies. Les Lawrence, who speaks for the LGA on educational matters, said: “Local authorities should be the final arbiter of and have jurisdiction over all schools’ admissions policies.” Again, this is something the NSS has been consistently arguing for, including in representations to the Secretary of State. While schools can set their own entry requirements, the temptation to cheat will always be there. Religious schools have the added privilege of being able to turn “undesirable” pupils away on the grounds that they aren’t the right religion, or even if they are, that they aren’t pious enough to qualify for a place.
As “faith schools” blatantly pick and choose their pupils, parents are left fuming when they can’t get their children into a local school, while pupils from outside the area are bussed in at great expense to fill the places.
“Ah yes”, argue the proponents of this unjustifiable religious discrimination, “but look how well we do. Our faith ensures that there is a supportive environment for our pupils where discipline can be maintained.” This is the alleged magical “ethos” that religious schools are supposed to be able to generate. But it isn’t a guarantee that all will be well.
Take the Oasis Academy in Mayfield, Southampton, for instance, which is run by the silver-tongued Rev Steve (Mr-faith-based-welfare) Chalke. His Oasis Trust already has nine academies under its belt and is looking to set up another three.
A couple of weeks ago at Mayfield, 150 pupils “rampaged” through the corridors to express their anger at the way the school was being run, according to the TES. This resulted in five pupils being “permanently excluded” (which means they end up in the local hard-pressed community school, adding to its pressures, while Oasis simply washes its hands of the problems). The pupils’ frustration is echoed by the staff team, which is considering a ballot for strike action.
The school, which only opened last month, is casting doubts on the credibility of the whole academies project. John Denham, the local Southampton MP and the Universities Secretary, has questioned whether the sponsor has the experience to run the school.
Pete Sopowski, the NUT’s area representative, said the school’s management had been “arrogant” in refusing to listen to the views of other people.
Ron Clooney, the NASUWT representative, said: “The school is a disaster. Parents, pupils and staff are unhappy with the way it’s being run. The spirit and caring ethos of the school has had a kick in the guts. Its heart has been torn out. Considering it's being run by a Christian organisation, it beggars belief the way they are dealing with the teachers and the kids. The protest by the Year 11s was hijacked by pupils who went on the rampage. They should not have done it, but they are upset.”
Christine Blower, the general secretary of the NUT, said: “It is amazing that the secretary of state of a major education department has said an academy sponsor needs help because it is so inexperienced. What problems are academies supposed to solve? The solution has become the problem.”
Oasis was chosen to run two academies in Southampton over a consortium of local colleges, universities and businesses, even though the council’s own assessment found that the consortium was more likely to raise standards. A survey of local parents also favoured the consortium. So given that the decision to hand this school over to Oasis seems to have been made before the consultation, what was the point of pretending to be interested in what parents or the local authority thought?
Mr Chalke told NSS Executive Director Keith Porteous Wood that he was invited by the Government to be a sponsor.
It’s another example of the Government imposing religious schools on communities against their will and against their better judgment.
7 November 2008