Schools: Admission Policies Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateBaroness Richardson of Calow
Main Page: Baroness Richardson of Calow (Crossbench - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Baroness Richardson of Calow's debates with the Department for Education
(11 years, 4 months ago)
Lords ChamberAll state-funded schools are required to promote community cohesion. Under the draft citizenship curriculum, pupils will be taught about diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the UK and the need for mutual respect and understanding. Schools are also free to teach pupils about such issues in PSHE. All state-funded schools are also required by law to teach a broad and balanced curriculum that promotes the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, and Ofsted’s inspection framework includes a focus on this.
Is the Minister aware that not all schools of religious character select on faith grounds? The Methodist Church has 65 primary schools that are state-funded and 17 independent schools, none of which select according to the faith of the parents, although all are organised on Christian principles, but they are offered to society for the good of society as a whole.