Support for single faith schools

July 10, 2002 in Children, Looked after children, Social care leaders

Single faith schools promote greater understanding of other
cultures, offer children more opportunities and deliver better
academic performance, according to delegates.

Speaking at a session on faith schools, Bill Taylor, leader of
Blackburn and Darwen Council, told delegates he supported faith
schools because they raised academic standards, improved discipline
of pupils and offered better life opportunities.

Muhammad Abdul Bari, deputy secretary general of the Muslim
Council, added that faith schools provided a sense of identity.
“People from ethnic minorities care about having children educated
where they are surrounded by their own culture but in a way that is
not isolated from society.”

President of the LGA, Lord Ouseley, said faith schools could
promote understanding of other cultures. “Faith schools must
deliver academically and provide knowledge and understanding of
national diversity. The vast majority of children are being denied
that, and most of those children are white.”