Faith Schools

“This Assembly is concerned about the Government’s proposals to remove the 50 per cent cap on religiously selective admissions for all religious free schools and the impact this would have on diversity within London’s schools.

Since 2007, a 50 per cent cap on religiously selective admissions has been in place for new academies and free schools which select by religion. The Government’s proposals intend to remove the 50 per cent rule and in its place, introduce measures that are less likely to increase diversity in faith schools.

The Government's own data show that religious schools which are 100% selective by faith are less diverse in terms of both race and social class than religious schools where the 50% cap is in place.

This Assembly believes that it is important for schools to serve the local communities in which they are located. The Mayor has released a statement in which he said selection leads to segregation and appointed a Deputy Mayor for Social Integration to help ensure Londoners from different faiths, ethnicities, backgrounds and social classes are better integrated in a city that is the most diverse in the country.

This Assembly calls on the Mayor to make representations to the Government to keep the 50% cap in place.

This Assembly asks for the Deputy Mayor for Social Integration to examine the effects of the Government’s proposals on diversity in London and to look at ways in which we can ensure that London’s schools are fully inclusive and to lobby the Government on their proposals.”