Policy Areas - Education and Culture

Diversity, attainment and faith schools

Andrew Copson — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:49:11 +0100

Those who defend discriminatory practices for faith schools are losing the argument on principle, in terms of community cohesion and on the research evidence about standards, says Andrew Copson. Let's open schooling up for all.

'Time to open up or call time on church schools?' asks Anglican newspaper

staff writers — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:07:23 +0100

In a surprise move, a major Anglican newspaper has joined a growing number within the Church of England, who are asking whether it is time to open up, or even 'call time' on church schools.

Woman prosecutes art centre over 'lewd' Jesus statue

staff writers — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:51:09 +0100

A Christian is taking an art centre to court over an exhibition which included a statue of Jesus she believes was lewd and offensive. Civil rights activists say this is an attempt to reinstate blasphemy laws by the back door.

A heated faith schools debate

Simon Barrow — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:19:10 +0100

Predictably, those who oppose the anti-discrimination stance of Accord are calling it an anti-faith schools coalition. It isn't.

A big small big world

Simon Barrow — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:40:58 +0100

The rich and powerful now have their own social networking site. It's called Eye of a Needle? Nope, it's called ASW. And you're not invited.

Faith in schools, fairness in the system

staff writers — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:50:18 +0100

Accord is bringing together Christians who favour a change in policy around faith schools, giving priority to openness and inclusion. Their voices are not always heard in the polarised debate about schooling which Acord wishes to redirect in a more positive direction.

A Christian case for Accord

Simon Barrow — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:08:56 +0100

Christians should be working for non-discrimination in faith schools because the Gospel is a message of sacrificial love not selfishness, says Simon Barrow. The Accord coalition's proposed reforms offer a constructive way forward.

Discrimination is 'what gives church schools their Christian ethos'

staff writers — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:21:50 +0100

Contradicting claims that they don't discriminate, a well known media supporter of faith schools has said that the discriminatory practices of church schools are what gives them their special ethos. Others disagree.

Jesus, the brand of the brothers

Brian Collins — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:43:36 +0100

Using a new-to-DVD documentary on Lonnie Frisbee as a starting point,
Brian Collins reflects on the way Jesus became an inspiration, brand and cultural transfer for an alternative culture that became mainstream.

Changing faith schools for the better

staff writers — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:33:25 +0100

To coincide with Ekklesia's involvement as a founding member of the Accord coalition, this paper contains a cross-section of documents and media articles from Ekklesia and other sources (2205-2008) to resource the ongoing debate about the reform of faith schools. These cover a range of issues concerning current policies of – and towards – religiously sponsored state-funded schools, in the light of the principles and practice of fully-inclusive schooling. They remain the copyright of their originators and contain the original link. We begin with the Accord principles and the case for them; then four documents from the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) with whom we cooperated on their very helpful Faith Schools Position Paper; Populus polling data on the public and faith schools; then a selection of media articles and reserach (including LSE, Institute of Education and National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), in chronological order.

staff writers

A chance for more fairness in faith schools

Press Office — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:19:43 +0100

Simon Barrow, co-director of Ekklesia, says that the Christian think-tank "is delighted to be a founding member of the new coalition, Accord, which seeks to reform faith schools through fair admiss

New coalition for inclusive schooling to be launched

Press Office — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:15:10 +0100

A new coalition called Accord, which will be launched officially on Monday 1 September 2008, is calling on Children, Schools and Families Secretary of State Ed Balls to stop publicly-funded faith schools from discriminating against students and teachers on the grounds of their beliefs.

Coalition to issue challenge on faith schools policy

staff writers — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:07:29 +0100

The government is being urged to reform faith schools to ensure they cannot discriminate against pupils and teachers on religious grounds and to give a clear commitment to inclusive, community-wide education for all Britain's pupils.

Investigative journalist wins world Christian peace award

agency reporter — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:01:33 +0100

The World Association for Christian Communication has announced that journalist Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!, a daily TV/radio news show airing on over 700 stations worldwide, is to receive its Communication for Peace Award.

Internet mapping bypasses 'church and pub' navigation

staff writers — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:22:21 +0100

People in Britain, whether religious or not, have been used to negotiating their directions by churches, pubs and other landmarks. But in the age of web maps that will have to change, because traditional sites are disappearing.