While the Catholic Church across Ireland is promoting its own schools this week, integrated education campaigners in the North are working to build community schooling that crosses religious and other divides.

The Accord Coalition, which campaigns for fully inclusive public schooling in the UK, is receiving the backing of MPs through a parliamentary Early Day Motion tabled by Ashok Kumar MP.

Campaigners for the reform of church schools have warned that the anticipated boost that the Church of England will get to church attendance this Christmas will come at a cost to children.

Runnymede Trust, a respected multi-ethnic research body, has said that schools backed by religious bodies can play a valuable part in the education mix, but only if they are prepared for radical reform.

One in four young people from across all religions are being bullied because of their religious beliefs. That is finding of a report by Beatbullying, the UK’s leading bullying prevention charity, published today.

Accord, the coalition concerned about the way faith schools currently operate and its impact on society, the new report by the Schools Adjudicator highlights the dangers of discriminatory admission policies and lack of regulation.

The Archbishop of York has called on the Government to give fuller recognition to the work carried out by faith groups in delivering social services and has dismissed those concerned about equalities and other issues.