Both The Daily Mail and The Times gave short measure to the Bishop of Oxford’s proposals in the Good Friday edition of The Times Educational Supplement that C of E schools should change their faith criteria on intakes.
The Daily Mail yesterday stated in its comment column that the “Church of England is its own worst enemy”.
The Mail continued: Forgive the sacrilege, but this Easter it is difficult for us to avoid asking the question: does the Church of England have a death wish?
We do so because the Church itself has chosen this holiest of weeks to allow a senior bishop to recommend that C of E schools should restrict their intake of Christian pupils to 10 per cent.
C of E schools are one of the education system’s few success stories. They achieve first-class results and – by encouraging parents and children to attend church, in order to win a place – help to keep alive this country’s Christian heritage and values.
Yes, we accept that those parents who undergo an almost miraculous conversion to Christianity to secure these sought-after places are guilty of hypocrisy.
But at least their children are being brought up in a faith that has defined this country for almost 500 years.
The Church admits academic standards could slide once the selection criteria are relaxed, and – by reducing the number of pupils with a religious background – the ethos of the school will be watered down.
The Times took the same line. In its comment it stated “The Church of England should not cut school places for the Anglican faithful”
The Times continued: It may be the fine weather, it may be the attachment to old customs and ceremonies or it may be the nagging of a long-dormant conscience: whatever the moral promptings, Britain’s churches will tomorrow celebrate Easter with fuller congregations than usual.
Most will be Christians by conviction; some, however, will be there because their presence will bolster their credentials as active members of the parish. And that, crucially, will give them a head start in the fierce competition to get their children into the best local school — the Church of England primary. To them the latest pronouncement by the Right Rev John Pritchard, the Bishop of Oxford and chairman of the C of E’s board of education, will come as a shock. No matter how long they toil in the vineyard of religion, he said, they should not have automatic priority: schools should sharply limit the number of places reserved for parents from a church background and open their doors to those of any faith or none.
Atheists, agnostics and those hostile to faith schools are naturally delighted. Even if standards are lowered, “discrimination” must end. The bishop is wrong. Faith is crucial to the success of these schools in moulding a strong, cohesive school community. That is why they were founded; that is why they attain academic excellence; that is why others are keen to enrol. And if church attendance rises as a result, why should a bishop complain? Is not exposure to Christian culture a powerful influence engendering faith and swelling the number of Christians? To serve the whole community, the bishop’s stated aim, is a noble motive. But do faith schools not best do that by example? The bishop should stick to his day job.
Read more:
See earlier report on this site, and
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13158380