Challenging Religious Privilege
Unregistered schools briefing
Read and share our campaign briefing on children's rights issues in, and our work related to, unregistered (illegal) faith schools.
Related News
Posted: Fri, 13 May 2022
Arrests made at unregistered school over FGM concerns
The NSS has expressed shock that female genital mutilation has been suspected at an unregistered school.
Posted: Tue, 10 May 2022
NSS welcomes greater powers for Ofsted to tackle illegal schools
The National Secular Society has welcomed a bill to grant new powers to inspectors to tackle illegal schools.
Posted: Tue, 12 Apr 2022
NSS welcomes proposed Ofsted powers to tackle illegal faith schools
The National Secular Society has welcomed plans to give school inspectors more powers to tackle unregistered illegal 'schools'.
Posted: Wed, 09 Feb 2022
Girls at failing faith school not taught ‘consent or respect’ in RSE
Pupils at an independent faith school are not taught enough about healthy relationships, including consent, inspectors have found.
Posted: Thu, 03 Feb 2022
NSS welcomes plans to safeguard children not in school
The NSS has welcomed a government announcement that it will create a register for children not in school to help tackle illegal schools.
Related Opinion
Religious schools that censor textbooks, teach creationism and limit pupils' chances aren't respecting the right to a quality education. The government shouldn't let them repeatedly fail inspections, says...
We must protect pupils’ educational rights where schools consistently fail
Posted: Sun, 28 Jun 2020
Eye-opening evidence at a public inquiry has shown the dangers presented by unregistered schools. Richard Scorer, a lawyer at the inquiry, says the authorities mustn't leave children to languish in unsafe...
The state must act to protect children in unregistered faith schools
Posted: Thu, 28 May 2020
The government has published new guidance on independent schools, amid systemic failings by independent faith schools. Alastair Lichten looks at what's changed and how the DfE has handled religious groups'...
New guidance on independent schools: analysis of hard-line opposition and DfE concessions
Posted: Fri, 03 May 2019
A government plan on integration sets out a positive vision on education - but faith schools remain the elephant in the room. Alastair Lichten asks if ministers' actions will match their rhetoric.
Integrated communities require inclusive, secular schools
Posted: Tue, 12 Feb 2019
After a father threatens the government with legal action over a requirement to teach about LGBT people in independent schools, Alastair Lichten argues the focus should remain on protecting pupils' rights....
Weaponised unreasonableness: father claims school standards violate his rights
Posted: Mon, 07 Jan 2019