A new report from Runnymede - the independent research organisation focusing on equality and justice -  has concluded that faith schools in England must become schools for all children in order to encourage interaction between people of different faiths and ethnicities.

Runnymede have published their report, ‘Right to Divide?’ after a two year investigation into the impact that faith schools have on community cohesion. The research involved over 1000 people across England sharing their views about the role that faith schools play in bringing people together or creating barriers between them.

The report, written by Dr Rob Berkeley, examined how faith schools responded to the statutory duty to promote community cohesion. It recommends:

1. End selection on the basis of faith - faith schools should be for the benefit of all in society rather than just some. If faith schools are convinced of their relevance for society, then that should apply equally for all children. With state funding comes an obligation to be relevant and open to all citizens.

2. Children should have a greater say in how they are educated - children’s rights are as important as parents’ rights. While the debate about faith schools is characterized by discussions of parental choice of education, there is little discussion about children’s voice.

3. RE should be part of the core national curriculum - provision for learning about religion is too often poor in schools without a religious character. Provision for learning about religions beyond that of the sponsoring faith in faith schools is also inadequate.

4. Faith schools should also serve the most disadvantage - despite histories based on challenging poverty and inequality, and high-level pronouncements that suggest a mission to serve the most disadvantaged in society, faith schools educate a disproportionately small number of young people at the lowest end of the socio-economic scale.

5. Faith schools must value all young people - people cherish facets of their identities beyond their faith, and these also need to be the focus of learning in faith schools – and valued within them. Similarly, religious identities should be more highly valued within schools that don’t have a religious character.

6. If these recommendations are acted upon, faith should continue to play an important role in our education system - faith schools should remain a significant and important part of our education system, offering diversity in the schooling system as a means of improving standards, offering choice to parents and developing effective responses to local, national and global challenges in education.

Rob Berkeley, Deputy Director of Runnymede, said: “Faith schools make up a third of our education system. Schools should be central to their communities and neighbourhoods for all who live there not just those who share their religious world view. If we are serious about the importance of equality and cohesion, faith schools too need to play their part by welcoming all in society to the benefits of their approaches. ”

www.runnymedetrust.org