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Supporter comments

Three in ten families across England live in areas where most or all of the closest primary schools are faith schools and thousands are being assigned faith schools against their wishes.

Parents' perspectives on the Choice Delusion

Displaying 1 to 10 of 56

My children have no choice but to attend a Church in Wales faith school, as with all our local council schools. It indoctrinates and teaches biased religious education. This is religious discrimination. Other faiths and atheism are dismissed. Rather than allowing more faith schools to be setup, existing faith schools funded by the taxpayer must be converted back to be secular schools free of religious discrimination and indoctrination.

My children have no choice but to attend a Church in Wales faith school, as with all our local council schools. It indoctrinates and teaches biased religious education. This is religious discrimination. Other faiths and atheism are dismissed. Rather than allowing more faith schools to be setup, existing faith schools funded by the taxpayer must be converted back to be secular schools free of religious discrimination and indoctrination.

Rohan, from NEWPORT

It's not fair that my child has to be exposed to religious dogma if they want a local education, or that they have to travel miles to a non-faith school if the faith school around the corner is allowed to discriminate on the grounds of faith. All education should be secular as this is the most inclusive form of education.

It's not fair that my child has to be exposed to religious dogma if they want a local education, or that they have to travel miles to a non-faith school if the faith school around the corner is allowed to discriminate on the grounds of faith. All education should be secular as this is the most inclusive form of education.

Sam, from SOUTH LONDON

My eldest just started Year 3 and has already chosen her secondary school, which is a local, but unfortunately, faith school. We are Christians but not church goers and as the admission policy stands, she would have no chance of getting in. I have briefly considered 'faking' it, getting her baptised and started attending church. But what exactly would I be teaching my child? Hypocrisy? Using religion as a tool to get what you want? I can only hope that change will come soon enough for as many non-worshippers children to benefit, mine included.

My eldest just started Year 3 and has already chosen her secondary school, which is a local, but unfortunately, faith school. We are Christians but not church goers and as the admission policy stands, she would have no chance of getting in. I have briefly considered 'faking' it, getting her baptised and started attending church. But what exactly would I be teaching my child? Hypocrisy? Using religion as a tool to get what you want? I can only hope that change will come soon enough for as many non-worshippers children to benefit, mine included.

Roxana, from BRISTOL

"In my area I have a choice of one primary school for my son if he wants a non-religious education. It's upsetting and discriminatory that the vast majority of non-religious people, and religious people who don't believe that belief is a public matter, in this country aren't catered for."

"In my area I have a choice of one primary school for my son if he wants a non-religious education. It's upsetting and discriminatory that the vast majority of non-religious people, and religious people who don't believe that belief is a public matter, in this country aren't catered for."

Martin, from BRIGHTON

I hate the fact that our local secondary school is a faith school. I have little choice but to send them there. The result is that they get evangelised to. It's awful but it's a choice between that or a horrible commute every day.

I hate the fact that our local secondary school is a faith school. I have little choice but to send them there. The result is that they get evangelised to. It's awful but it's a choice between that or a horrible commute every day.

Chris, from NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

I'm looking at moving to a village, but the only school is run by the C of E. I scroll across google maps and the next 2 villages in a row are also only C of E! Where are the options for a non-religious education?

I'm looking at moving to a village, but the only school is run by the C of E. I scroll across google maps and the next 2 villages in a row are also only C of E! Where are the options for a non-religious education?

Rachel, from YORK

I actually find it hard to believe that in this day and age discrimination on any means is allowed. In Liverpool, my 4 year old starts school next week and his options were drastically reduced because we refused to get him 'fake' christened, why should I pretend his is being raised in a faith just to get him a good education, education and religion have no place together. Our schools need to arrive in the current era of equal rights. It's actually quite shocking that my son will not be considered for a school because of a prejudice.

I actually find it hard to believe that in this day and age discrimination on any means is allowed. In Liverpool, my 4 year old starts school next week and his options were drastically reduced because we refused to get him 'fake' christened, why should I pretend his is being raised in a faith just to get him a good education, education and religion have no place together. Our schools need to arrive in the current era of equal rights. It's actually quite shocking that my son will not be considered for a school because of a prejudice.

Carrie, from LIVERPOOL

Our children are discriminated against in our potential secondary schools. There is no choice, only one we can apply to (without having to jump thru hoops of entrance tests). We refuse to begin attending church to get our "Stamps" Schools should be secular across the board and parents given full opportunity to bring up their children in the religion of their choosing outside of the education sector.

Our children are discriminated against in our potential secondary schools. There is no choice, only one we can apply to (without having to jump thru hoops of entrance tests). We refuse to begin attending church to get our "Stamps" Schools should be secular across the board and parents given full opportunity to bring up their children in the religion of their choosing outside of the education sector.

Sarah, from LIVERPOOL

I and my children had no choice but to attend church of England primary schools and, in my case, a grammar school with compulsory worship, compulsory church attendance and compulsory education in Christian mythology.

I and my children had no choice but to attend church of England primary schools and, in my case, a grammar school with compulsory worship, compulsory church attendance and compulsory education in Christian mythology.

Elliott, from PORTSMOUTH

"My own (atheist) children were taught creationist beliefs in their village primary school (there was no non-faith school we could choose), and that other faiths were essentially primitive. At secondary level, in our nearest town, there are three non-selective schools, two of which are faith schools. These faith schools don't accept children from families with no faith unless the families lie about their lack of faith. Our 'choice' was restricted to one school, therefore, unless our children passed the selective tests for the non-faith grammar schools. The faith schools' admissions criteria therefore massively distort the secondary system here."

"My own (atheist) children were taught creationist beliefs in their village primary school (there was no non-faith school we could choose), and that other faiths were essentially primitive. At secondary level, in our nearest town, there are three non-selective schools, two of which are faith schools. These faith schools don't accept children from families with no faith unless the families lie about their lack of faith. Our 'choice' was restricted to one school, therefore, unless our children passed the selective tests for the non-faith grammar schools. The faith schools' admissions criteria therefore massively distort the secondary system here."

Sarah, from TUNBRIDGE WELLS

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Are you locked out of your local school based on religion? Have you been assigned a faith school against your wishes? Are faith schools your only option?