Accord has responded to a report by Ofsted about community cohesion and RE in independent faith schools. While Accord’s main concern is about how state-funded schools operate, it is important to counter the impression given by some commentators that the problem is with “secular” schools, rather than with those faith schools that do not teach a balanced curriculum.

Speaking in response to the report, Accord Chair Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain said:

“The positive tone of this report is astonishing given the problems that it has uncovered in independent faith schools. These schools were judged to a bare minimum standard that required no mention of other faiths at all, let alone non-religious beliefs. We are dismayed that the fifty one schools inspected, twelve “raised concerns about any requirement to teach details of other faiths”. Some schools even wanted to “protect children from the perceived negative influences of secular society, such as electronic media”.”

“The comments on the way that “secular” schools operated are based on the perceptions of teachers and parents at independent faith schools, not on visits to community schools. They are little more than hearsay. In contrast the fact that some independent faith schools are using inaccurate or biased materials about other religions and about conflict the Middle East was discovered by school inspectors.”

“The worst thing is that many state-funded faith schools are also free to teach whatever they like in RE. It is crazy that schools almost totally funded by the taxpayer, can teach a biased and incomplete curriculum in RE.”