NO: The Argument Against: Isn't it enough that 45% of pupils go to faith schools?
by Cllr Paul Clein, executive member for education, Liverpool city council
THE Government is encouraging expansion of the number of schools controlled by faith bodies. Tony Blair obviously believes this will automatically raise educational standards and provide a special ethos. Ironically, this is all coincident with declining weekly attendances at religious services and, in Liverpool, the closure of churches and amalgamation of parishes.
It should be remembered many secular schools have an excellent ethos, and provide equally high- quality education. Liverpool's Blue Coat School, the city's only grammar school, is one example.
The proposed takeover of Blue Coat by the local Anglican Diocese is, we are told, based on the 1739 deed which supposedly set up the school, even though it was actually set up in 1708.
This apparently included undertakings to "teach children to read, write and cast accounts and instruct them in the doctrines of the Church of England". This latter clause is hardly surprising, given that Catholic Emancipation did not become law until 1829.
Nonetheless, this clause is deemed sufficient for the Secretary of State to be "minded" to grant the takeover application.
Over 50% of current Blue Coat pupils belong to faiths other than the Church of England.
This is the most oversubscribed school in Liverpool, with about six applications for each place.
Assuming future intake will be limited to Anglicans (and despite claims to the contrary, what would be the point of a C of E takeover if it were not to be so?) it is unarguable this takeover will discriminate against other faiths and will reduce the options for such families.
For that reason alone, the city council will oppose this proposal.
Colleagues have suggested the Diocese would not be so interested in Blue Coat if there was not a Trust Fund with several million pounds, plus a very large and valuable playing field attached.
While that seems a tad cynical, the Diocese has laid itself wide open to such accusations, given its previous long record of non-involvement with the school.
If faith school status is such a guarantee of improvement, why isn't the C of E taking over inner- city schools with lesser standards and without trust funds?
My other concern regards the precedent which could be set in allowing such a hostile takeover on a disputed technicality.
This could pave the way for similar moves by the Anglican Church to annex other schools.
About 45% of school places in Liverpool are already in faith schools. That is surely more than enough.
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