Success! Plan to scrap cap on faith school selection halted

The National Secular Society has welcomed the Government's announcement that it has abandoned plans to scrap the 50% cap on faith based admissions at free schools, after the plans faced heavy opposition.

The proposals were introduced by the previous Government last year following intensive lobbying from religious groups.

The National Secular Society strongly opposed the plans, and urged then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to retain the cap.

The results of a consultation on the proposals were published last week, with 66% of respondents strongly disagreeing or disagreeing with the changes.

Under the 50% cap, new academies and free schools with a religious character in England may only select up to 50% of pupils based on religion when they are oversubscribed.

Removing the cap would enable these schools to select 100% of children based on their parents' religion if oversubscribed.

The Department for Education said it "will not be moving forward with these proposals at this time" and has "committed to remove barriers to opportunity and raise school standards".

But it added it will "will continue to keep these policy areas under review". It said: "we look forward to working in partnership with all types of school, including the important contribution of faith schools".

The announcement comes after the Government failed to support an amendment to its Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill last week, which would have extended the 50% cap to all state-funded faith schools, including voluntary aided (VA) faith schools.

VA faith schools can discriminate on the basis of religion in 100% of admissions when oversubscribed.

In 2023, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended the Government end faith based admissions in English schools.

Recent research shows that faith schools underserve children with Special Educartional Needs and Disabilities (SEND), children in care and children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

The plans would also have allowed academies for children with SEND ('special academies') to apply for a religious character designation. The NSS raised concerns about the imposition of religion on vulnerable children with SEND. This plan was also heavily opposed by consultation respondents.

NSS: 'Decision not to enable more religious discrimination welcome'

National Secular Society head of campaigns Megan Manson said: "We welcome this decision not to implement the previous government's ill-conceived plans to enable even more religious discrimination in our schools.

"Removing the cap on faith-based admissions at academies would not only had led to greater religious segregation - it would also have put up barriers for lower income families, children in care and children with special needs and disabilities.

"Thank you to all our supporters for speaking out for inclusive schools for all. We now urge the Government to ensure its Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill does not lead to a new wave of 100% selective faith schools."