Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department's proposed change to the requirement for new religious free schools in respect of potential applications from people of other faiths or none represents a change in policy; and what the reasons are for that proposed change.

The consultation document, Schools that work for everyone, sets out the government’s view that the 50% cap has not been effective in promoting diversity, and in its place, presents a series of strengthened safeguards to ensure that every new faith school operates in a way that promotes fundamental British values and supports inclusivity.

The consultation also includes a proposal that new faith-designated free schools, should demonstrate that parents of pupils from all parts of their local community, would be happy for their child to attend their school.

These changes present an opportunity to explore new ways of using the school system to promote greater integration within our society generally.