NEW PLANS TO SCRAP 50 PER CENT CAP ON FAITH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS Schools should be able to select up to 100% of their intake based on pupils’ faith
Many in the Catholic and Anglican education sector have praised government plans to lift a faith-based admissions cap on new free schools in England.
Under the current rules, only half of students can be chosen based on religion. According to the Department of Education, the rule has meant that some faith groups have felt unable to open new free schools because they would be forced to decline pupils who adhere to their religion
A seven-week government consultation launched on Wednesday will now look into whether schools should select up to 100 per cent of their intake based on pupils’ faith.
Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, who herself attended a Catholic school, said: “Faith groups run some of the best schools in the country, including in some of the most disadvantaged areas, and it’s right we support them to unleash that potential even further – including through the creation of the first-ever faith academies for children with special educational needs.”
The Catholic Union, which has been campaigning on the issue, said the plan would make way for Catholic free schools to open. Nigel Genders, the Church of England’s chief education officer said,“This broad package is good news because it will mean more people can benefit from the education provided by Church of England Schools which is so highly valued by parents and children and young people.”.