Schools: Religious Education

Debate between Lord Nash and Lord Lea of Crondall

Thursday 30th June 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

I agree entirely with the right reverend Prelate. The Church has a good record of creating much inclusion in its schools. We have a considerably increased intake for the more academic, rigorous GCSE that we introduced.

[Lord Lea of Crondall (Lab)]

My Lords, one of the most popular words at the moment is “binary”, as in in/out. When it comes to the question of science and religion, it is a question not just of teaching doctrines but of the examination of the compatibility of, for example, Christianity with the Big Bang origin of the universe. It is not just a question of a binary argument about what should be on the curriculum.

Schools: British Values

Debate between Lord Nash and Lord Lea of Crondall

Thursday 12th June 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

I must say that I struggle to keep up with the Labour Party’s flip-flopping on this point. Its last report said that it would allow all schools not to teach the curriculum. The fact is that all schools have to teach a broad and balanced curriculum and have to take account of spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues, and we will make sure that all schools have to teach British values.

[Lord Lea of Crondall (Lab)]

My Lords, following on from the question from my noble friend Lord Morris of Handsworth, would the Government not find it wise to bear in mind the words of another very distinguished former general secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, Mr Ernest Bevin, who stated about a matter of this kind: if you open up that Pandora’s box, you will find it full of Trojan horses?

[Lord Nash]

Having spent the past few months dealing with this issue, I find it difficult to find it amusing, but I note the noble Lord’s point.