§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what regulations govern the teaching of religious education in faith schools, with particular reference to the teaching of faiths other than that of the religious group sponsoring the school. [153252]
§ Mr. MilibandThe regulations governing religious education in faith schools are set out in Schedule 19, paragraphs 3–6 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1988.
In summary, this sets out that for voluntary controlled schools, the religious education offered is to be in accordance with the LEA's locally agreed syllabus. However, if parents so request, arrangements should be made for religious education to be provided for their children in accordance with any trust deed or the practice followed before the school became controlled.
For voluntary aided and special agreement schools, the religious education offered is to be determined by the governors in accordance with the trust deed or (where such provision is not made by a trust deed) in accordance with the tenets of the religion or religious denomination, or in line with practice before the school became a voluntary school. But provision in accordance with the LEA's locally agreed syllabus may be made where parents request it and their children cannot conveniently attend a school where that syllabus is in use, unless the LEA is satisfied that it would be unreasonable to make such provision.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary and (b) secondary faith schools there are, broken down by denomination. [153271]
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§ Mr. MilibandThe number of primary and secondary faith schools by denomination is as follows:
Primary Secondary Church of England 4,513 207 Roman Catholic 1,718 356 Christian1 16 17 Jewish 27 6 Methodist 27 1 Muslim 4 0 Sikh 1 1 Seventh Day Adventist 0 1 Quaker 1 0 Greek Orthodox 1 0 1 Non-denominational.