One in three people thinks Church Schools discriminate against children from deprived backgrounds.

The findings of a survey published by the Church of England (CofE) today suggest that 29.4 per cent of people believe children from wealthy backgrounds are more likely to get a place in a Church Schools than their poorer peers. Of those who believe there to be a difference between Church Schools and other state schools run by local authorities, almost half (45 per cent) believe Church Schools discriminate on socio-economic grounds.

The figures come weeks after the launch of Accord, a powerful coalition of religious figures and secular organisations who want a ban on religious admissions criteria in state-funded faith schools.

Andrew Copson, director of education at the British Humanist Association – a member of Accord – said the public perception is backed up by research findings which indicate that the schools use discriminatory admissions policies. “Just as worrying is the fact that these schools discriminate on grounds of religion, which means that children are denied the opportunity to learn together.”

The Rev Jan Ainsworth, the Church of England’s chief education officer, said: “Church attendance is the only measure our schools use when allocating places on the basis of faith, and churches are open to anyone, irrespective of background or income. However governing bodies and the wider sector need to be crystal clear in the way that admissions policies are implemented and communicated.”

The opinion poll found that more than four in ten people (46 per cent) think sex education in Church Schools is incomplete and restricted but over three quarters said the schools helped children develop a sense of right and wrong.

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