Another endorsement of the role that contact theory can play in resolving differences and creating more empathetic relationships - ‘is and them’ is our own creation

Yet another unregulated school, there are hundreds. We need a new framework for faith and belief education -and soon. ‘Exposed: the illegal school teaching children conspiracy theories’ ⁦Humanists UK⁩ ⁦Accord Coalition⁩ ⁦Belong - The Cohesion and Integration Network⁩
thetimes.co.uk/article/47011a…

Great to see another way of promoting intercultural policy and practice. Plenty of UK schemes could qualify for these awards! Belong - The Cohesion and Integration Network

Funders, do you support work that aims to strengthen social cohesion?

Belong - The Cohesion and Integration Network is seeking input from funders' perspectives to design a social cohesion measurement framework for use by grant recipients.

Find out more 👇
funderscollaborativehub.org.uk/collaborations…

The continued growth of Multi Academy Trusts, which seems inevitable, but is anyone considering the implications for governance and accountability? Regional board highlights from TES tes.com/magazine/leade…

There's still some tickets left for our FREE online workshop on Thurs 13 June to get you started with our #PowerofConnection digital toolkit.

If you want to learn how to build stronger communities through volunteering then this is the event for you!

eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-power-of…

Very pleased to support this letter, retaining the 50% cap on single faith for new faith schools is actually a quite modest but essential step to preserve inclusion, cohesion and intercultural learning

What a great way to raise kids awareness at an early age. And based on the reality of this criminal and abusive practice of forced marriage. ⁦Jasvinder Sanghera CBE⁩ ⁦Karma Nirvana⁩ bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan…

Current debate re faith schools (Govt to allow more 100% single faith) illustrates i/c and m/c difference. Multiculturalists support faith schools and interculturalists oppose them. The conception of bounded defensive identities and fluid and interactive learning in practice

We have to be honest: one of the main reasons that faiths want their own schools is that it requires parents to attend church regularly and creates a religious expectation for their kids. This is clearly set out in school admissions policies. Inclusion is trumped by self interest

There should be very wide concern about these new proposals - this is not just about schools, but about the cohesion of our neighbourhoods - report after report on cohesion has expressed the same concern about segregation

Faith Schools are able to manipulate admissions and teaching to enhance their sense of exceptionalism and further divisions, even if unintentionally so. And some could take advantage the low level of regulation: researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06…

Compare an MP's salary against a Junior Doctor's salary
2009 MP £64,766 JD £28,274
2010 MP £65,738 JD £28,274
2013 MP £66,396 JD £28,274
2015 MP £74,000 JD £28,274
2016 MP £74,962 JD £32,398
2018 MP £77,379 JD £32,398
2020 MP £81,932 JD £32,398
2023 MP £86,584 JD £32,398

When the Government suggested uncapping religious segregation in schools in 2018 the policy was defeated because practically no one in education could see any sense in it whatsoever (see pic). The cap mitigates the proven impact faith schools have on social mobility and cohesion.

The Prime Minister from Downing Street just a few weeks ago spoke about how we need a more cohesive society. Now his team are looking to repeal one of the very few moves towards integration in school admissions made in the last few years? thetimes.co.uk/article/no-10-…

Many children living near faith schools are denied access to this public service. Lucky we do not have faith hospitals! Segregation should be seen as a policy of a bygone era

Instead of removing this faith school cap -which only applies to a very few faith schools - it should be extended to them all. Segregation entrenches stereotypes in children and their parents, and also denies access and equal opportunities.
thetimes.co.uk/article/15877c…

Very interesting paper, and interesting discussion of Protestant-Catholic divided society, with lessons for segregation based on ethnicity

This accords with my understanding Pier-Luc Dupont Tariq Modood Prof. Dr. Fethi Mansouri Ricard Zapata Glenda Ballantyne Bob White

Ever since City Challenge, when the introduction of competition in local government resource allocation, decisions have been open to Ministerial partiality. Should now either be ended or overseen by independent authority theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/a…