{contact.email_greeting},
February was a bit of a quiet month in terms of NMFS news. However, it certainly wasn't quiet in terms of other education
issues, and we're soon to enter an important and challenging period.
The deadline for applications to the Government's new funding scheme for 100% selective (voluntary aided) faith schools has now passed. We'll soon know which
projects the Government suggests funding. We'll be working to ensure all of these proposals face robust local challenges. This will be a significant piece of
work and we'll need your support.
This is also a key time of year if you want to make a complaint to the Office of Schools Adjudicator (OSA) about a faith school's discriminatory policies (these
don't need to be restricted to admissions), breaking the School Admissions Code.
Find out more.
Last week was secondary school offer day and an opportunity to raise the issue of those families with no choice but a faith school, or locked out of their local
schools by religious discrimination. If you haven't already, please read and share with your MP our ground-breaking report The choice delusion: how faith schools restrict
primary school choice in England.
My main opinion piece this month addresses some of the questions this campaign gets about independent faith schools.
WHY FOCUS ON STATE-FUNDED FAITH SCHOOLS?
The coming months will be very important for the No More Faith School campaign. We are grateful for everyone who's written to their MP, signed the petition and
shared their story. If everyone reading this can take just one or two more actions for the campaign, we can really increase our impact. It's not enough to be
right, only activism can create change.
In other news:
Today (Wednesday 6 March) I'll be giving a talk about secular education and #NoMoreFaithSchools at Brighton Humanists. If you're in the area, please come and say hello.
If you'd like a speaker or resources for a #NoMoreFaithSchools meeting of your own,
please get in touch.
On Wednesday 20th of March I will be visiting Belfast to learn more about the challenges facing their sectarian school system and efforts to integrate
it. I'm hoping to arrange some sort of social or meetup with supporters while I'm over. If you're interested, please let me know.
Best wishes,
Alastair Lichten
Education and schools officer – NSS
Campaigner - NMFS
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