Yes, I know the arguments about indoctrination on the taxpayers\’ shilling but:
The academic superiority of faith schools was underlined today as they dominated top positions in new league tables for 11-year-olds.
Two thirds of the 250 primaries in England achieving "perfect" test results were Church of England, Roman Catholic or Jewish schools.
Despite making up just a third of schools nationally, faith schools increased their hold on the top places from 44 per cent two years ago to 66 per cent in 2007. Last night, they hailed the results as a testament to good teaching and discipline.
Is it possible that at least some of the hatred from people like Polly T is that they actually do teach pupils better ? Thus showing up the rest of the comprehensive system?
It’s hard to say without knowing what the intake is really. I imagine it’s massively ‘above average’ on exam scores.
Matthew, these are primary schools; there haven’t been any previous exams.
Sadly a lot of faith schools select by ability, or parents occupation, rather than religious conviction. I remember reading that CoE schools tend to have less kids on free school meals than neighbouring schools.
We’re atheists and our kids go to Catholic schools. That 66% figure is quite staggering.
“indoctrination on the taxpayers’ shilling” is the point of State schools. “Faith” schools just happen to be doing a different indoctrination, whether it be Jewish, Christian or Catholic.
“Faith” schools just happen to be doing a different indoctrination, whether it be Jewish, Christian or Catholic.
That’s not the point. There is no other service which taxpayers contribute towards but from which they (or rather their children) can be excluded from on the grounds of confessional division. Taking the raw data and then announcing that faith schools are ‘academically superior’ is good for nothing except reinforcing the prejudices of Telegraph readers. Have these figures been controlled for intake and size of catchment?
“However, faith schools performed much less well in an alternative league table that took account of deprivation, special needs and children speaking English as a second language”
The answer to that seems to be no.
By contrast, my wife used to work in an independent prep school. This school was nominally C of E and indeed, was located next to the Cathedral on Cathedral (i.e. C of E) owned land.
It had a faith-blind admissions policy – they never even asked.
My local tax-funded school selects children on the following points system:
Those whose parents are fortnightly worshippers at specified Christian churches (1 year duration): 4 pts
Those whose parents are fortnightly worshippers of other “world faiths” (1 year duration): 1 pt
Existing sibling in school: 3 pts
Local address: 3 pts
Special needs: 3 pts
Unfortunately for my kids, I’m an atheist and not a hypocrite, so they’re out of luck.
How would we feel if the local NHS hospital only admitted left-handed people ?
Most of you seem to be missing the point in the criticisms of Faith Schools. If other types of schools were available, that had a similar focus on hard work and discipline, non religious parents would not send their children to Faith Schools. Unfortunately in the Peoples Republic of Britain, these are the only alternative to those whose income doesn’t stretch to school fees.
“Is it possible that at least some of the hatred from people like Polly T is that they actually do teach pupils better ? “
Some..? I’d say all…
Matt, Kit, it’s their school uniforms that make their grades go up, just like David Cameron says.
Or not.
“If other types of schools were available, that had a similar focus on hard work and discipline”
Unlike most people on this thread, I’d imagine, I have taught in a number of ‘faith schools’. If you think that, for example, the sort of ‘faith schools’ you might find in the east end of Glasgow or North Lanarkshire have a ‘focus on hard work and discipline’, you are simply misinformed.
One of my family went to a Faith School where a vigorous attempt was made to teach hatred of Protestants. (Hint: it wasn’t a Jewish school.) So I am no fan, but I do laugh at any attempt to imply that “indoctrination” is absent from bog standard State schools.
Dearieme,
From what you say, “bog” seems to be the right word.
Heh.