Protect inclusive secular schooling, NSS urges council

The National Secular Society has urged Westminster City Council to protect inclusive schooling in the borough by halting a proposed amalgamation of three primary schools.

The council is consulting on plans to amalgamate Barrow Hill Junior School, George Eliot Primary, and Robinsfield Infant School in response to declining pupil numbers in the borough. All three are community schools with no religious character.

In response, the NSS warned against the amalgamation's "significant reduction in places at secular, inclusive schools" which would put "children and families from nonreligious and minority religious backgrounds at a significant disadvantage".

The proposals would reduce capacity by 200 places at nonreligious schools.

Christian faith schools are significantly overrepresented in the borough. Over half (55.1%) of primary school places in Westminster are at Christian faith schools, almost twice the national average (28.3%).

But according to the 2021 Census, only 37.3% of Westminster's population are Christian, a reduction of 7.3% from 2011.

Conversely, the majority (53.4%) are not religious or belong to a different religion. Most of these religions or beliefs have seen an increase in adherents, particularly the percentage of nonreligious people (25.9%) and Muslims (20.0%).

The NSS said that in light of the decline in Christianity and increase in irreligiosity and religious diversity, Westminster Council should be looking to "protect and expand the number of places available at secular, inclusive schools, not reduce them".

It said that whilst inclusive, nonreligious schools are "fundamentally suitable for pupils of all backgrounds", faith schools are not, due to exemptions from equality law which allow them to promote their religious ethos throughout school life, including via the curriculum and acts of worship.

Equality law exemptions also allow most kinds of faith schools to discriminate against families who do not practise the school's religion when the school is oversubscribed. Of the 24 primary faith schools in Westminster, 23 prioritise children from practising Christian families in their admissions.

The NSS said this discrimination, and the promotion of one religion ahead of other religions and beliefs, can be "deeply alienating" to children and families who do not share the faith of the school.

The NSS also said there was "no evidence" from the consultation documents that Westminster Council had considered its obligations under the Education Act 1996 to consider the "diversity in the provision" of schools as part of this proposal. It said the council is arguably already failing in this requirement because there are insufficient nonreligious schools to accommodate the needs of the borough's residents.

A group of parents from each of the three schools are opposing the proposals, saying they will "continue to fight to keep our three secular schools open". Describing their sadness at "the lack of transparency in the decision making process" the group added that nearby faith schools' insistence that "families attend church to get a place at a school", is "not reflective of the diversity of London".

The NSS added that faith schools are among the most socially selective schools in England, with comparatively low numbers of pupils eligible for free school meals (a proxy for measuring disadvantage).

This is true of Westminster schools: according to Department for Education figures, average FSM eligibility at nonreligious schools in the borough is roughly 43%, but only 36% at faith schools. Research by the London School of Economics in 2016 suggests this kind of social selection could increase social segregation and lower social mobility.

NSS: Decisions on education must not come at expense of secular education

National Secular Society spokesperson Jack Rivington said: "No child should be obliged to attend a faith school because there are no available places at inclusive secular schools; this amalgamation would make such an event more likely.

"And even those parents who don't mind sending their child to a faith school may find themselves shut out by discriminatory, faith based admissions at their closest school.

"Whilst the need to reduce total available places amidst decreasing numbers of pupils is understandable, it must not come at the expense of secular education.

"Our schools system should put the best interests of children, families, and the local community first, not those of religious institutions. We urge Westminster Council to reconsider this decision which will perpetuate disadvantage in the borough."

Media coverage:

Secular society slams schools merger plan - Westminster Extra