* Jonathan Bartley: “The Government's plans would mean an increasingly segregated and restrictive school system, which will exacerbate social division at a time when we need greater social cohesion.”
Jonathan Bartley, the new co-leader of the Green Party, has slammed Theresa May’s plans to increase selection by faith in education [1].
Bartley, who as director of religion thinktank Ekklesia co-founded the Accord Coalition to reform faith schools, said:
“The Government has clearly run out of ideas. More grammar schools and greater selection by faith are no solution to the problems faced by post-referendum Britain. Indeed, they will make things worse.
"The Government's plans would mean an increasingly segregated and restrictive school system, which will exacerbate social division at a time when we need greater social cohesion.
“We need a new, bold vision for education, not a return to the mistakes of the past.
"Every child deserves real opportunity. That means a child-centred approach with smaller class sizes, a wider curriculum and the opportunity to flourish - not a two-tier system which rewards those who can successfully work the system through private tuition or religious attendance."
Research by the Accord Coalition has found faith schools take fewer children eligible for free schools meals than other schools, as well as fewer children with special educational needs [2].
Vix Lowthion, Green Party education spokesperson and a teacher in the Isle of Wight, also criticised the Prime Minister’s plans for the expansion of grammar schools.
Lowthion said:
“This is 1950s education policy in a digital age. The department of education are detached from reality and have run out of ideas.
“We need a progressive Government, in touch with the demands of young people and education in the 21st century, who will widen opportunities for all.”
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