NSS raises faith-based school admissions at UN Human Rights Council

The NSS has urged the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) to press the Government to end religious admissions and mandatory collective worship in state funded schools.

The HRC will host a panel discussion on "accessible, inclusive, equitable and quality education" for every child at its 57th session in Geneva later this month.

In a written submission to the HRC, the National Secular Society called for the repeal of exemptions to Equality Act 2010 which allow religious admissions and mandatory collective worship.

Religious admissions 'stand to damage societal cohesion'

Many faith schools across the UK are allowed to discriminate on the basis of religion in 100% of admissions when oversubscribed. Faith based free schools may discriminate in 50% of admissions.

Religious admissions may take into account the child's baptism status and church attendance record, amongst other criteria.

The NSS said religious admissions "disadvantage children of non-religious parents and parents of the 'wrong' religion" in accessing their desired school.

It noted discriminatory admissions lead to segregation of children along religious and, in some cases, ethnic lines. The NSS said this arrangement "stands to damage societal cohesion".

Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights has expressed doubts over the compatibility of religious admissions with the Human Rights Act 1998.

Last year, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) recommended the UK Government end religious admissions in English schools.

The HRC recently reaffirmed that "everyone is entitled to the right to education without discrimination of any kind".

Despite this, the last Government proposed lifting the 50% cap on religious admissions at free schools.

Labour have not commented on whether they will take the proposal forward, but last year Kier Starmer said his government would be "even more supportive" of faith schools.

The NSS also highlighted how faith schools underserve of children with special educational needs, children in care and children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

Collective worship "violates the right to freedom of religion and belief"

Daily acts of collective worship are mandated by law in all state schools in England and Wales.

In schools without a religious character or ethos, the worship must be "wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian nature". There is no independent right of withdrawal for children under 16.

The NSS said mandated worship "violates the right to freedom of religion and belief" as enshrined in Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The CRC has twice recommended the UK repeal legislation mandating worship. A 2022 Government report said it had "no plans" to do so.

Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights has said the Government should "revisit the justification" for Christian worship in schools.

NSS: 'Our education system should be open and welcoming to all'

NSS human rights lead Alejandro Sanchez: "For too long, religious privilege has been allowed to trump the rights of school children and their parents.

"In an increasingly non-religious and religiously diverse society, our education system should be open and welcoming to all.

"It's high time discriminatory religious admissions and mandatory collective worship were consigned to the annals of history.

"We hope the Human Rights Council will support us in these efforts."