Humanists UK warns govt of faith schools’ ‘negative’ impact on cohesion

Humanists UK has warned the government’s Women and Equalities Committees about the “negative” impact faith schools have on community cohesion. 

It comes after the charity’s chief executive, Andrew Copson, appeared in front of the committee to deliver expert oral evidence as part of its inquiry on community cohesion, having previously submitted written evidence. 

According to Copson, faith schools negatively impact community cohesion because they segregate children along religious, economic, and racial lines, and so “impede opportunities for children from different backgrounds to come together”. 

He also pointed out that almost no other European countries have faith schools with religiously selective admissions criteria, and how “absurd” it would be for other public services – such as libraries and hospitals – to be religiously segregated. 

During the session, Copson reiterated Humanists UK’s call for Ofsted to reinstate its inspection on how schools contribute to community cohesion. 

Citing that an estimated 6,000 children are being taught in illegal ‘schools’ in this country, Copson warned the Committee that while the government is taking action to close them down via its Schools Bill, loopholes may persist that will enable illegal schools to continue to function, placing children at severe safeguarding risks.

In his oral evidence to the Committee, Copson also called for a human rights-centred and dynamic approach to community cohesion – including interfaith and belief work as well as side-by-side activities, such as gardening or sports, to boost interactions and mixing at a local level. 

He told the Committee that we need to accept that people hold views that other people disagree with as long as they’re not causing harm to others. And when harms do occur, he called on robust government intervention, including protecting people from religious violence where it occurs, and protecting apostates who can be at risk in this country due to leaving their religion.

Copson said: “It was a pleasure to speak to the Women and Equalities Committee and share our recommendations on how the government can improve community cohesion – from ending religious segregation in schools, reforming religious education to be taught nationally and made inclusive of humanism, shutting down illegal schools, and reintroducing inspection of cohesion in schools. 

“The government has many levers it could pull to improve community cohesion at its disposal, and we call on it to take action.”