Totnes Liberal Democrat speaks on 'Faith School' policy at Liberal Democrat Spring Conference.

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 16th Mar 2003

Mike Treleaven Totnes Constituency Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson today took part in the debate on 'The Future of Faith Schools' at the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in Torquay. The future direction of faith schools is a complex issue with many differing views as to whether they should be encouraged as state funded schools or not. Conference narrowly defeated a proposal to introduce a category of multi-faith schools and change the regulations for single faith schools.

Speaking after the debate Mike Treleaven said:

' I am nothing against state sponsored faith schools in principle providing they have admission policies that make them accessible to all regardless of race, creed or economic standing, and providing there is sufficient parental choice. This is particularly important in the secondary sector. We have a long tradition of voluntary aided and controlled primary schools in Devon, but if parents are unhappy to use these schools there is usually an alternative reasonably close by.' He continued ' In this constituency we have 5 excellent Community Colleges all 10 - 15 miles from each other and the reality is that parents have no choice - their children go to the school that serves the catchment area where we live. If a faith secondary school was to be proposed it could only be at the expense of existing Community Schools. In towns and cities with many schools a faith school might well be appropriate if there were alternative choices, but that would never be the case in rural areas. I could not support proposals which had insufficient safeguards to prevent a vociferous minority imposing its will on a silent majority.'