Upcoming Events :
Housing Seminar: Partnerships with the Public Sector – Avoiding the pitfalls
Thu 31 May 2012
Minerva House, 5 Montague Close, London, SE1 9BB
Over 300 faith schools 'seeking academy status'
Tue 29 Jun 2010
More than 300 schools have so far expressed an interest in gaining academy status, new figures have revealed.
According to the British Humanist Association (BHA), this includes various denominations such as Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh schools.
About 200 Church of England schools were said to be looking at becoming academies, along with 100 Roman Catholic institutions.
However, the BHA has expressed concern that this could lead to faith schools being allowed to preserve and enlarge "discriminatory" admissions and employment practices.
Andrew Copson, chief executive of the organisation, added that giving schools academy status would increase the amount of control exerted by religious groups.
He said this would remove the "moderating influence" of the state and the local community.
Andrea Squires, a partner at Winckworth Sherwood Solicitors, commented: "The BHA's comments are misconceived as academies are not free from state control - only from local authority control.
"Whilst existing freedoms are expected to be preserved, there is no suggestion in the draft legislation or current policy that admissions criteria will be relaxed any more than at present."
This comes after Lord Hill, parliamentary under-secretary of state for schools, said he is delighted that so many schools have expressed an interest in gaining academy status.
Official figures show that this includes more than 900 schools that have been rated as outstanding.
