Faith in our schools

Faith schools have often been – and continue to be – controversial. People opposing faith schools express concerns about the possible indoctrination of developing minds whereas supporters point to the strong moral compass they provide in a world which provides so many temptations and distractions for young people. It is important to distinguish between majority faith schools where the curricular offering is very much mainstream and the very small minority of establishments where the curriculum is substantially reduced or distorted for doctrinal reasons. Our focus in fMany faith schools are very popular with parents from other persuasions. The strong moral principles on which most faith schools are based inculcate the good behavioural outcomes and disciplined approach to learning which coincide with the expectations of most parents. Those maintained primary schools with Catholic or Anglican Church governance are the most popular among parents of different faiths – sometimes to the extent of real or apparent sudden parental conversions in order to improve the child’s chances of a place! The balance between strong principles and indoctrination is important, however, and is an area where most good faith schools show this Guide is very much on the former and respect for and tolerance of the views of these include many well-regarded and well- families from a variety of faith backgrounds. established schools. The range of faith schools in the boarding There is a wide range of schools with sector is extensive and reflects the role of affiliations to faiths. Some of our oldest various faiths in the founding of schools 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 and a strong tradition for attracting Jewish students. Many pupils transferred to Clifton when Carmel College, a Jewish foundation, closed in 1997 following the demise of the Government Assisted Places scheme on which it was heavily reliant. Several boarding faith schools based on the Islamic tradition have been developed over the last 20 years and this provision is likely to expand. The independent sector is very much about parental choice. Faith schools widen that choice and can cater for parents who want their children’s education to reflect their own faiths as well as parents who feel that a faith school will help to provide a stronger moral compass. The variety of faiths represented and the differential contributions which faith makes in the modern lives of each school allows most parents to find a school well-suited to their child and the family as a whole.

SERVICE PARENTS' GUIDE TO BOARDING SCHOOLS • AUTUMN 2022 / CHOOSING AND ASSESSING SCHOOLS / 35 Faith in our schools

Graham Able

Group Deputy Chairman, Alpha Plus 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.