Welcoming the launch of the Fair Admissions Campaign in England and Wales, Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society think-tank Ekklesia, said:
“In taking their core commitments seriously, the Christian churches and other faith communities should be at the forefront of seeking equal treatment and non-discrimination in all areas of life, not least education.
“Selection based on the beliefs or non-beliefs of pupils or parents is clearly discriminatory and operates in neither the general public interest nor in the interest of particular belief communities.
“The Campaign for Fair Admissions is an important initiative in getting people from both religious and non-religious backgrounds to work together for the common good in an important area of society.
“All taxpayer funded schools should be open to all, regardless of their religious or non-religious background.
Encouraging mixing, mutual learning and understanding among pupils is vital to breaking down barriers and building bridges in our communities.”
* The Fair Admissions Campaign (FAC) website can be found at: http://fairadmissions.org.uk/