As Accord is being launched new rules are being put in place to restrict even further the rights of staff in state funded religious schools. From 1 September 2008 it will be legal for voluntary controlled schools to reserve the headship for religious teachers and for voluntary aided schools to discriminate against non-teaching staff on the basis of their beliefs.

These changes have been in the pipeline since the passing of the Education and Inspections Act in 2006 so there was not much hope that we could change reverse the decision on the day of our launch! Nevertheless, we are determined that these appalling regulations will mark the high water mark of legalised religious discrimination in state funded schools.