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NSS raises discrimination concerns over faith-based academies
Posted by Mark Cunningham
The National Secular Society (NSS) has raised concerns that the government's new academies system will make it easier for faith schools to discriminate against non-religious staff.
According to the organisation, the fact that faith schools which secure academy status will have full control over their own employment policies will remove the statutory protections covering atheist teachers.
Currently, non-religious teaching staff are not required to give religious education lessons or conduct collective worship, while there is a 20 per cent limit on the proportion of staff who can be required to be religious in a local authority-controlled faith school.
As a result of these concerns, the NSS has made a formal complaint to the government and European Commission.
Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the NSS, said: "Staff should be treated with equal respect whatever their faith - or lack of it - and not forced into pretending to hold beliefs that they do not have in order to retain their jobs."
Last month, the NSS welcomed the news that damages have been awarded to a gay couple who were refused a room at a hotel in Cornwall due to the owners' religious views.
18/02/2011 16:55
News category: Employment