The report examines the actual primary school choices available across England, and within rural areas specifically. It also analyses school admission data and other school preference research to quantify how these effects impact school choice.
- Almost three in ten families across England live in areas where most or all of the closest primary schools are faith schools. There is significant regional variation and the problem is more prevalent in rural areas. However, even in urban areas around one in four families live in areas with high or extreme restrictions.
- Every year between 45,000 – 60,000 families apply for primary schools in areas with extreme restrictions on non-faith school choice, with a further 111,000 – 136,000 in areas of high restriction.
- In 43.4% of rural areas restrictions on non-faith school choice are categorised as "high" or "extreme". In fact, 53% of rural primary schools are faith-based.
- 20.6% (7,727) of those who missed out on their first choice of a non-faith primary school in September 2018 were assigned a faith school. This includes 1,398 people who had made all their preferences (typically five) for a non-faith school.
- When parents appeal against the allocation of a faith school, there is no guarantee they will succeed – effectively forcing children into faith schools against their parents' wishes.
What can be done?
The report makes a number of policy recommendations.
- The Department for Education should monitor faith-based restrictions on school choice and suitability across England. New school plans should focus on addressing these.
- Local authorities school provision should monitor faith-based restrictions on school choice and suitability and prioritise inclusive school provision when making decisions about amalgamations.
- Faith-based discrimination in admissions should be phased out particularly in areas of significant restrictions on school choice.
- A moratorium should be introduced on the opening of new faith-based schools. This could be phased in starting in the areas with the highest faith-based restrictions on school choice and suitability.
- It should be made easier for faith schools to lose or downgrade their religious designation, particularly in areas where they are contributing to high faith-based restrictions on school choice or are significantly unrepresentative of their local communities.
- There should be a legal entitlement for all families to have reasonable access to a non-faith school.
Printed copies of the report are available on request.
Take action:
Share with your MP
Please share the report with your MP along with this personalisable cover letter.
Take a stand against faith schools
No More Faith Schools is a national platform for everyone who wants to see an inclusive education system, free from religious control.
Are faith schools restricting your options?
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?
Parents' perspectives
Below are three randomly selected parents' perspectives on the how faith schools restrict their choices. Click the link here or below to browse a wider selection.
Peter, from SALISBURY
"I had never looked into the rules of faith schools and admissions before. Now that I am expecting a baby soon, I have searched locally - I am shocked to discover that unbiased education free from religious dogma is not an option."
Vikki, from PETERBOROUGH
"As a teacher I see a lot of schools, often in areas where there is no educational choice, adding the weight of respected adult support to a set of beliefs they expect very young children to follow. This should not be done using public money!"
Jo, from HERTFORDSHIRE
"Not being religious ourselves we think this school is completely inappropriate. We've been told we can withdraw our daughter from worship and RE but there's no alternative provision, and sitting outside a classroom feels like punishment. Why should our daughter be punished for not being religious?"
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A selection of parents' perspectives on the issues in our report, and how faith schools restrict their choices.
Is a faith school your only option?
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?








