School admissions policies called into question

CHURCH OF England schools should adopt non-religious admission arrangements.

That is the call from an influential group including the former House of Commons education select committee chair, Barry Sheerman MP and former chair of governors at a Church of England state funded school, the Rev Stephen Terry.

They are among 20 signatories of an open letter to the

Guardian, calling for the nonreligious selective admission arrangements to replace the current Church of England’s pupil admission guidance.

The Anglican group is asking that schools no longer select pupils on the grounds of Church attendance.

The group disagrees with the practice and policy, which they argue does not serve the work and message of the Church for the ‘generosity of its mission to the whole community.’

The letter states that the admissions system is flawed because it is ‘open to abuse’. The letter cites an example of a survey by the Sutton Trust in 2013, which showed that six per cent of parents admitted attending church in order to send their child to a local Church school.

The letter reads: “Considering that a quarter of pupil places in the state system are at faith schools and many faith schools do not reward Church attendance (many show preference to baptised or local children), the survey points to widespread abuse among those that do.

“Worryingly, among parents of socio-economic group A the level of false Church attendance rose to 10 per cent.”

The letter argues that the Church is helping the ‘already advantaged’, as it boasts good standards and levels of attendance from children from affluent families.

“Ultimately however the universality of the Church is being turned to the advantage of those who are already advantaged. We believe this issue presents a slow-burning crisis.”

Theologian and writer, Theo Hobson, who helped organise the letter, said: “Many Church schools already do not select pupils by faith, highlighting that it is not necessary to have selection to maintain a Christian ethos. In fact, it is by operating policies that incentivise religious inauthenticity and which disadvantage the poor that Church schools undermine their ethos.

“The Church can and should demonstrate greater leadership and revise its admissions guidance.”

Letter signatory, the Rev Stephen Terry, said: “Faith selection at Church of England schools makes the Church appear defensive and inwardlooking, when the schools should look outwards.”

The letter is signed by clergy, members of General Synod and even members of the House of Lords.