Church Schools (Hansard, 13 November 1997)

§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)
My Lords, the Government believe that schools with a religious character are an essential part of our education system, enriching its diversity and quality. We are therefore committed tosafeguarding the character of these schools. We recently announced developments to the new school framework which will strengthen these safeguards. The Churches have welcomed these developments.

Baroness Young
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Is she aware that the important document dealing with the framework for the organisation of schools has not been available in the Printed Paper 250 Office and certainly was not available today? Those of us who try to follow these matters depend on such documents for our information. What arrangements have been agreed with the Churchesas regards the critical question of the number of foundation governors in aided schools? That is one of many issues which causes concern to such schools which have had a long tradition in our education system and which are highly regarded by parents for their excellent results.

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, I did not know that the foundation document was not in the Printed Paper Office. I apologise and will ensure that it is there as soon as possible. As regards the number of governors in aided schools, on 27th October my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment announced that the majority of foundation governors on the governing bodies of aided schools will be increased to two at primary schools and three at larger secondary schools, reflecting the current position at voluntary aided schools. The commitment to strengthening representation for parents on governing bodies will bemet by ensuring that the additional foundation governors are parents.

§ Lord Pilkington of Oxenford
My Lords, does the Minister remember the conversation that we had two days ago when I reminded her that the document was not available in the Printed Paper Office? It still was not available this morning.

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, I regret to say that in the past two days, as a result of being busy with a number of other issues, I failed to take up the matter. I apologise to the noble Lord and will do so immediately.

§ The Lord Bishop of Birmingham
My Lords, I am grateful for what the Minister said about the Government's commitment to the place of voluntary schools within the maintained sector. I should welcome a categorical assurance that it is the Government's policy that Churches should continue to have an effective and decisive majority on the governing bodies of Church schools. Do the Government accept that if it is right that within the voluntary sector there should be provision for the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England and the Jewish community to have schools for their children it is, in principle, a matter of justice that there should also be the provision for schools of other faith communities? That is an acute question in particular for Moslems.

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, as regards the right reverend Prelate's first question, I repeat what I said in answer to the noble Baroness, Lady Young. The Government are absolutely committed to having a majority of Church governors in voluntary-aided schools.
As regards his second question about the establishment of state-funded schools for other religions, it will continue to be the case that there will be opportunities for voluntary bodiesor groups of persons 251 of any religious persuasion to seek to establish state-funded schools. The Secretary of State currently makes decisions on those proposals. In future we propose that decisions will be taken at local level.
There have been five applications for voluntary-aided or grant-maintained schools from the Moslem community. Two were rejected by previous Secretaries of State and one was withdrawn. Two applications for Moslem grant-maintained schools are currently under consideration. Of course, each must be considered on its merits and the right reverend Prelate will understand that it would be wrong for me to comment on individual cases.

§ Lord Gisborough
My Lords, in view of the dangerous result of single-religion schools in Ireland and the attempts to mix children up at an early age, is it not rather dangerous to encourage too many single-religion schools?

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, the current situation is that if people wish to promote state-funded schools, they are able to put forward proposals. But they must meet certain criteria, including that they are able to offer the national curriculum. It is not a matter of encouragement, but of enabling people who wish to make the case for such schools to be able to do so.

§ Lord Mackie of Benshie
My Lords, is the standard of education in Church schools equal to that in state schools?

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, the standards of education in Church schools are veryoften extremely high but Church schools will vary just as schools maintained by local education authorities vary.

§ Baroness Blatch
My Lords, will the noble Baroness accept not only that the document was not in the Printed Paper Office during the course of this week but that throughout the consultation period it has not been available to Members of this House or shadow Members at all? In fact, I received my copy this morning, which I passed on to my noble friend Lord Pilkington, with the results of the consultation. I find that very disturbing. In future, we should like to be able to obtain copies. Not only was it not in the Printed Paper Office but that office was not aware of the document itself. Although I knew the document existed, it took five telephone calls to the DfEE before I received confirmation that it did exist and that I would be receiving a copy.
Secondly, what are the distinguishing features, under the new arrangements, between a Church school and a foundation school, which will be the option for grant-maintained schools?

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, once again, I should say that I was not aware that the document was not in the Printed Paper Office until the day before yesterday. I shall take up that matter with the Department for Education and Employment and its officials. It is important that we should ensure that such 252 documents are available not only to Members of the Opposition but to all Members of your Lordships' House.
As regards the noble Baroness's second question, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment announced at the end of October that there will be three categories of school: a community category; a voluntary category, which will consist of the existing voluntary-aided schools and any voluntary-controlled schools which wish to be members of that category; and foundation schools which will be most of the existing grant-maintained schools which choose to be members of that category, and any voluntary-controlled schools which wish to be members of that category.