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Faith
in our schools Graham Able Group Deputy Chairman, Alpha Plus
Faith schools have often been – and
Many faith schools are very popular with
and a strong tradition for attracting Jewish
continue to be – controversial. People
parents from other persuasions. The
students. Many pupils transferred to Clifton
opposing faith schools express concerns
strong moral principles on which most
when Carmel College, a Jewish foundation,
about the possible indoctrination of
faith schools are based inculcate the good
closed in 1997 following the demise of the
developing minds whereas supporters
behavioural outcomes and disciplined
Government Assisted Places scheme on
point to the strong moral compass they
approach to learning which coincide with
which it was heavily reliant. Several boarding
provide in a world which provides so
the expectations of most parents. Those
faith schools based on the Islamic tradition
many temptations and distractions for
maintained primary schools with Catholic or
have been developed over the last 20 years
young people.
Anglican Church governance are the most
and this provision is likely to expand.
popular among parents of different faiths –
It is important to distinguish between
sometimes to the extent of real or apparent
The independent sector is very much about
majority faith schools where the curricular
sudden parental conversions in order to
parental choice. Faith schools widen that
offering is very much mainstream and the
improve the child’s chances of a place! The
choice and can cater for parents who want
very small minority of establishments where
balance between strong principles and
their children’s education to reflect their own
the curriculum is substantially reduced or
indoctrination is important, however, and is
faiths as well as parents who feel that a faith
distorted for doctrinal reasons. Our focus in
an area where most good faith schools show
school will help to provide a stronger moral
this Guide is very much on the former and
respect for and tolerance of the views of
compass. The variety of faiths represented
these include many well-regarded and well-
families from a variety of faith backgrounds.
and the differential contributions which
established schools.
faith makes in the modern lives of each
The range of faith schools in the boarding
school allows most parents to find a school
There is a wide range of schools with
sector is extensive and reflects the role of
well-suited to their child and the family as a
affiliations to faiths. Some of our oldest
various faiths in the founding of schools
whole.
established boarding schools were originally
across many years. Within the Christian faith,
founded as Christian institutions but not
there are Catholic schools such as Prior Park
all have retained such a strong religious
and Stoneyhurst, Anglican schools of varying
tradition. Dulwich College is a good example
churchmanship such as the Woodard group
– it remains a Christian foundation with an
(high church Victorian foundations including
Anglican Chaplain and an honorary Catholic
Lancing and Worksop) and those of a more
Chaplain but with no chapel on its campus
Protestant tradition such as Rugby. There
since it moved location in 1874 and no
is a strong Methodist group (including Kent
requirement on any of its pupils to attend
College and Ashville College) and several
any overtly religious gathering. It caters for
well-established Quaker foundations such
the needs of a multi-faith student body with
as Leighton Park. Caterham School was
visiting Imams and Rabbis and provides
originally established to educate the sons
for meetings of Hindus and Sikhs. Other
of Congregationalist ministers although it is
schools such as Christ’s Hospital (Anglican)
now a mainstream co-educational boarding
and Prior Park (Catholic) maintain strong
school.
allegiance to their founding traditions, although they are very much open to those
Clifton College, a Christian foundation, had a
of other – or no – faiths.
Jewish boarding house for many years
Graham Able has spent 40 years in independent schools, the last 22 as Headmaster of Hampton School and then Master of Dulwich College. After retiring from Dulwich he was appointed Chief Executive of the Alpha Plus Group, stepping down from this role in 2014 since when he has been Group Deputy Chairman. Having previously served on the governing bodies of Roedean and Imperial College, he was a governor of Gresham’s School from 2013 to 2020 and is a governor of Beeston Hall, where he was once a pupil and is now Vice-Chairman. A former chairman of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), he has advised governing boards on their structure and effectiveness.
