All children deserve the best education, wherever they live and whatever their background. Every family in Mid Sussex should be able to access a good school. That is why I welcome measures announced to create more places across the diverse school system, giving families greater choice and raising standards for pupils.
Currently one in three state-funded schools are faith-based. They have a strong record of high pupil attainment and are often very popular with parents. Many are good or outstanding, and I know that more want to open.
At the moment, the Government requires admission authorities for a mainstream free school designated with a religious character to allocate at least 50 per cent of its available places without reference to faith-based admission criteria, when oversubscribed. The original aim of that restriction was to promote a more inclusive intake in those schools. However, the evidence suggests that this faith admissions cap has not achieved inclusivity. It has also worked against creating more good school places because faith bodies have felt unable to establish new free schools on this basis.
Therefore, I am delighted that the Department for Education has begun a consultation on faith designation reforms for new and existing free schools and special academies. The Secretary of State's proposals will remove the cap and, by doing so, increase the number of good school places where there is demand from communities, ensuring parents have more choice over where they send their child to school.
I believe the proposals mean high performing faith school providers will be able to create more good school places and creates strong multi-academy trusts around the UK where there is demand.
Please do follow this link to read more about the consultation and how to participate here: Mims Davies MP shares consultation on lifting 50% cap on Faith School Places | Mims Davies
