back back to Letters previous previous story  |  next story next

Admissions policy of church schools

From Anstice Hughes
Sir, — As a community governor of a Church of England foundation school, I agree with Richard Franklin’s call (Letters, 25 April) for the Church to rethink its position on admissions policies to church schools. I should like to suggest a few points for consideration.

First, as he points out, where church schools are seen as “good” schools, clergy are forced to play along with a system that can be both socially exclusive and hypocritical if they are asked to provide evidence that a child’s family are regular church attenders. Parents who have the social skills, commitment, and determination will and do use the system to gain a place for their child, whereas those who lack social and economic advantages are less likely to do so. Does this reflect a Christian view of social justice?

Second, as Christians, we should all be concerned to mitigate the effects of pollution to preserve a healthy environment. If all children attended their nearest school, we could cut numbers of car journeys dramatically.

Third, when community and faith leaders are invited into schools, it would assist their efforts to build bridges with families through their children if these children all lived locally rather than spread widely over various villages, towns, and boroughs. Children are more likely to have a sense of belonging to the local community if they are educated within it.

Finally, if we feel that a church school has something distinctive to offer a child — an education within an affirming, caring, Christian ethos — should this not be on offer to all the children in the community, not privileging those who already come from churchgoing families?

ANSTICE HUGHES
1 Forelands Grove, Hill Top
Bromsgrove B65 7NQ



back back to Letters up back to top previous previous story  |  next story next


© Church Times 2006 - All rights reserved

Website by Baigent