No religious or sex education at new Bristol primary school
A NEW primary school planned for Bristol's inner city will focus on English, maths, "a strong moral code" and good behaviour – with no lessons about religion or sex education.
The team behind The Bristol Primary School, a proposed free school given the go-ahead earlier this month by Education Secretary Michael Gove, say this is what parents in the area want.
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School class 2
No religion will be taught in the school and there will be no sex education lessons. Little time will be given to PE during the week, but pupils will attend on Saturday mornings for sport, art and activities.
The school's statement says: "For too long vital elements of a child's early introduction into education have been overlooked with more emphasis placed upon play and social studies. The end result is that many children have failed to be able to read, apply basic mathematical understanding and require support in order to behave in a group."
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Andy Burkitt, chairman of the trustees of the Bristol Inner-City Schools Trust, which made the successful free school bid for the Easton and St Paul's area, said hundreds of parents had signed up in support.
The plan is to open in September 2013 with up to 60 four-year-old pupils and the same number of seven-olds. This would allow the school to grow within four years to up to 420 pupils aged four to 11.
Mr Burkitt, a retired youth worker and chairman of Ashley Community Housing, said he hoped to be able to announce next month where the school would be based.
The National Union of Teachers has expressed concern about the proposed primary and its possible impact on other schools in the neighbourhood. But Mr Burkitt said he did not think it would be a problem because of the numbers of children in the inner city seeking school places.
Bristol City Council said it had not known of the planned free school until it was announced by the Department for Education.
Free schools are one of Mr Gove's flagship policies. He wants to allow parents to open schools if they are unhappy with local provision.
Mr Burkitt said parents from a range of ethnic backgrounds in the multicultural inner city had approached the trust to ask for a school that had high aspirations for their children and aimed for academic excellence. "Parents want something a little bit different, which is more married to their needs. This has not been provided by the state system up to now. A free school is about delivering what parents want."
He said the education side would be run by Sabis, an international education provider that runs inner-city charter schools in America.
Mr Burkitt said an initial approach to the city council had been rebuffed so the trust had gone ahead with its plans. "We do not rule out working closely with the local authority in future," he said.
Comments
by JBriddlington
Saturday, July 28 2012, 11:54PM
“What is so alarming about a school not teaching sex and relationship education ? As the parent of a child you, and you alone are best placed to educate your son or daughter about the birds and bees or the deeper meaning of existence in a manor that fits with your values, and at a time you think is right for your child.”
by drdoof
Wednesday, July 25 2012, 12:51PM
“The school should meet the needs of the children in today's england, NOT the parents' needs to (presumably) instil Muslim belief in their offspring.
I had to move my daughter from Millpond school (in Easton) because the only lesson taught was how to speak english, 80% of the children there could not speak it, and she kept referring to her jumper as her "hijab". I don't want to see my taxes go to fund a Muslim school thank you”
by drdoof
Wednesday, July 25 2012, 12:49PM
“I am guessing that this school will have a large Muslim population. I do not think it is right that they should be allowed to break the law by not having sex education and education *about religion* just because the families do not wish to integrate into society. I don't think my taxes should go to pay for it, either.”
by DownByLaw
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 11:33PM
“ethic minorities! the mind boggles.”
by jacobdog
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 8:41PM
“My previous comments were not intended to endorse the school or SABIS, I was pointing out that blaming 'soft lefties' is complete tosh and displays incredible ignorance of the facts, this is a tory policy based on localism and reducing state involvement in daily life. If you don't like the policy then take it up with the government, its stupid to blame lefties or liberals.
Personally I think that SABIS running schools is about as welcome as the Catholic Church running schools, the sooner religion is separated from state, the better.”
by katachua
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 5:48PM
“Or even "This might be of interest"... Sorry!”
by Waybaloo
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 5:48PM
“whats their beef with PE?
Sabis group seem keen to strip away all that is play, social and cultural in schools
Ive read about this, they call this "boiler room education" or something don't they. Whatever it was called it wasn't very child friendly.”
by katachua
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 5:48PM
“His might be of interset, too - http://tinyurl.com/cq6r3up”
by katachua
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 5:33PM
“Sorry if this is repeated, but this pig-awful site is mucking me about.
From the SABIS website -
"Since 1993, Lebanon-based SABIS Educational Services S.A.L. (SES) has been entrusted with the management of the global SABIS School Network. Specifically, SES works toward developing the network in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, which is home to 62 schools and one university in the organization's 80-strong school network. SES manages the university and schools through a team of committed and experienced professionals who ensure quality control, innovation, and efficiency. "”
by katachua
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 5:31PM
“From the SABIS website -
"Since 1993, Lebanon-based SABIS® Educational Services S.A.L. (SES) has been entrusted with the management of the global SABIS® School Network. Specifically, SES works toward developing the network in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, which is home to 62 schools and one university in the organization's 80-strong school network. SES manages the university and schools through a team of committed and experienced professionals who ensure quality control, innovation, and efficiency. "”