New research into community cohesion confirms the need to challenge religious segregation in education, the National Secular Society has said.
A recent report by British Future and the Belong Network found that whilst schools are widely considered the best place for people from different backgrounds to mix, few people report actually mixing there.
It also found widespread concern about religious divisions.
The report, based on a survey of over 2,000 UK adults, round table discussions and written evidence submissions, will inform the work of the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, which aims to “collectively build a more united country”.
The NSS, which submitted evidence for the report, said the findings highlight the “serious threat” religiously segregated schools pose to community cohesion.
Schools have “crucial role to play” in social cohesion
When asked about which activities have the most positive impact on how people from different backgrounds get on together in their local area, the most popular choice was “people mixing in schools, colleges or universities”.
However, when asked where they generally meet and interact with people from a different background, “at school, college or university” was the least popular of the seven options available, with only 5% selecting this. “Meeting other parents through my child/children” was the second least popular option, at 14%.
Furthermore, when asked about what issues have the most negative impact on how people from different backgrounds get on together, “divisions between people who have different faiths” was the issue of second highest concern, after issues relating to immigration.
The NSS has long highlighted how faith schools contribute to segregation. Most types of faith schools, which make up a third of state funded schools, can prioritise children whose families share the school’s religion in their admissions.
This leads not only to religious segregation, but also ethnic and socioeconomic segregation.
“Promoting mutual respect between people of different backgrounds in the school curriculum” was the second most popular answer to a question regarding actions to address social divides. “Addressing racial and faith divisions” was ranked fourth.
Stakeholders frequently mentioned schools having “a crucial role to play” in social cohesion, and it was widely felt schools “should do more” to improve understanding of social cohesion among children and young people. The report said schools have “a major role in building democratic resilience”, including through citizenship education. In its submission, the NSS recommended expanding and improving the provision of citizenship education.
The report also said the Israel-Gaza conflict had led to “raised tensions”. The NSS’s submission highlighted how dozens of Islamic charities have promoted antisemitic and divisive statements in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attack.
NSS: Failure to open more inclusive schools “a glaring missed opportunity”
NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: “The report’s findings suggest a segregated school system is a serious threat to community cohesion.
“While schools are widely considered the best place for families of different religions and beliefs to mix, the presence of discriminatory faith schools in the state education sector means children are divided along religious, racial and socioeconomic lines.
“Allowing faith schools to proliferate, rather than focussing on opening more inclusive schools for all, is a glaring missed opportunity to bring families of different backgrounds together.
“The report underlines why religious selection and faith based schooling must be phased out of state funded education.”