06 October 2016

Should there be more Muslim state schools?

Is the best way to guard against radicalisation to make sure Muslim pupils are in religious state schools that are robustly regulated?

When the government unveiled its plans for schools in England, the headlines were taken by the controversy over grammars.

But there was another shift in policy which would make it easier for an increase in faith-based free schools.

This was presented in the context of allowing more Catholic schools, with Prime Minister Theresa May commending them for high achievement often in areas of deprivation.

And, she said, "there is growing demand for them".

But expanding faith schools will not be limited to one religion or denomination.

And in terms of "growing demand", one of the biggest gaps must be for Muslim faith schools. [BBC] Read more