The United Synagogue

Schools Unite Over Admissions Policy Plans

PRESS COVERAGE

London,
1st December 2006


SCHOOLS UNITE OVER ADMISSIONS POLICY PLANS


Controversial clauses in a proposed new government schools admissions code have again united all sections of the Jewish school community in opposition.
Simon Goulden, chief executive of the United Synagogue's Agency for Jewish Education, which is co-ordinaring the protests along with the Board of Deputies, told the JC: "The government has launched a new admissions code for primary and secondary schools only three years after the last one. We have only just settled down to that and they want to change it again."

He identified several proposals that were causing "considerable concern" across the communal spectrum. These included disapproval of voluntary contributions; that the levels of observance should not be a factor in deciding whether a child receives a place and a proposal that children in care could come from a different faith or no faith.

"On voluntary contributions, we are saying they arc needed to pay for things like heightened security as well as education," said Mr Goulden.
"As far as religious affiliation is concerned, there are a number of schools that require a level of observance and we believe they should be free to assess that and give priority to those who meet their criteria. There is no one size fits all to this. You cannot just say a letter from a minister [of religion] will do.He said the proposal about children in care was "introducing non-faith children by the back door."

Communal ire was increased, said Mr Goulden, when the government tried to bring in the new proposals with just three weeks left of the consultation process, which ends today.

The bill is expected to become law in February and will affect admissions from September 2008. It is the second time in two months that government moves have united opponents from across the Jewish spectrum.
In October, a bid to impose a quota of children of different faiths or no faith on faith schools, led to all parts of the Jewish community opposing the strategy.

-END-


Article Credit, Jewish Chronicle, www.thejc.com

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