Event details

York Union debate

The United Kingdom is home to a high and increasing number of faith schools. They regularly out-perform non-faith schools academically and remain hugely popular, especially among middle-class and religous parents. Yet they are also a source of intense controversy. For some, they are beacons of intellectual rigour and an expression of a fair and tolerant society. For others, they are a source social segregation and an historical residue of the pre-Enlightenment era. In light of the Trojan Horse investigation, increasing concerns about educational inequality and the Conservative Party tabling plans to deregulate selection criteria to faith schools, now is a prime time to ask what, if any, role religion should play in our state-funded schools.

The York Union is proud to host a debate on the motion: ‘This house believes state-funded faith schools should be banned’, featuring:

- Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association and co-author of the Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Humanism (arguing in favour of the motion);

- Marc Sidwell, co-author of The School of Freedom and contributor to the Telegraph (arguing in opposition to the motion).

Our debates, as usual, are as intelligent as our audience; so please join us for what should be a lively, engaging and much needed debate. We look forward to seeing you there!