Many parents fake religiosity to get school places, survey finds

The National Secular Society has called for action on faith schools after new research suggested significant numbers of parents exaggerate their religiosity to get their children into preferred schools.

A survey this month by property website Zoopla, reported in The Times today, found 28% of parents were "lying, bending rules or playing the system" to secure a place at a state school. Out of those, 25% of parents resorted to misleading schools about their level of religious observance.

A third of state funded schools in England are faith schools. Religious exemptions from equality law mean many faith schools can select children based on their family's religion when they are oversubscribed.

The NSS said the findings should prompt urgent action from the Government to end the discrimination and segregation caused by faith schools.

Zoopla: exodus of pupils from independent to state schools fuelling problem

Zoopla, which also found 30% of parents who lie do so about which catchment area they live in, said deception to get school places was being driven in part by the Government's decision to remove VAT exemptions from independent school fees.

It said 12% of the 1,019 parents surveyed had previously sent their children to independent schools but could no longer afford the fees.

According to the Independent Schools Council, the resulting increase in school fees has led to 10,000 pupils moving from independent schools into the state sector. The Institute for Fiscal Studies says up to 40,000 pupils may eventually move into state schools.

The NSS warned this would fuel the social segregation and inequalities caused by faith schools, by adding to competition for school places which wealthier parents are more likely to gain.

Recent research has revealed that as well as separating children according to religion and ethnicity, faith schools are more socially selective, create barriers for looked-after and previously looked-after children, and admit fewer pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

In 2017, an estimated 16% of mainstream state school places were subject to religious selection (1.2 million places in total). This is greater than the number of places at private, single-sex and grammar schools, or places that select by skill or aptitude, combined. The Department for Education has more recently admitted it does not know exactly how many schools apply religious selection in their admissions.

The NSS has raised concerns that planned changes to how new schools can open may result in the growth of faith schools which can select 100% of pupils based on religion.

NSS: "No parents should ever be put in such a situation"

NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: "It's alarming that so many parents feel compelled to lie about their religiosity in order to get their child a place in a publicly-funded school.

"No parents should ever be put in such a situation. It is shameful that schools we all pay for in our taxes should be allowed to discriminate against families who don't follow the 'right' religion.

"Research consistently demonstrates faith schools are less likely to admit children from poorer families. A wave of former independent school pupils seeking places in state schools will inevitably result in faith schools becoming even more exclusive, adding to social segregation.

"The Government must now, as a matter of urgency, tackle discriminatory faith school admissions head on. It must ensure all new schools are fully inclusive for all families and foster community cohesion and equality."