Thank you everyone who has joined and supported the #NoMoreFaithSchools campaign this week, as well as everyone who have been with us from the beginning and have helped spread the word.

This week the National Secular Society released polling by Censuswide looking at British attitudes to religion in schools. As is the trend, the figures make unhappy reading for supporters of faith schools. The public are on our side, but will the politicians listen?

Just 17% of respondents said they agreed with the statement: "Publicly funded schools should be able to select pupils on the grounds of their religious beliefs". Even when the question said "faith schools should be able to select pupils on the grounds of their religious beliefs" just 29% agreed.

Interestingly, those supporting religious selection in schools aren't much more than the fringe 13% of people who say state schools should be able to select pupils based on their parents' political beliefs.

For me this exposes a discrepancy at the heart of our schools. State schools are forbidden from promoting, showing favouritism to or discriminating on the grounds of partisan politics. So why is religion treated so differently?

Does anyone seriously suggest the lack of state funded Conservative Comprehensives, Nationalist Nurseries or Socialist Secondaries is an affront to political freedom? Are there any Labour voters outraged their local school isn't able to favour their children over those of their Lib Dem neighbours?

In my latest opinion piece I argue our approach to politics in schools could show a fair way forward to ending faith schools and protecting freedom of belief for all.

Best wishes,

Alastair Lichten
NMFS campaign