Strengthening citizenship can 'square circle' between faith school strengths and plural society, says Gordon Marsden MP, but head of Stonewall says faith schools serve whole community badly.

A stronger focus on the demands of common citizenship is needed to ensure faith schools sign up to the values of twenty-first century Britain, Gordon Marsden MP, a member of the Education Select Committee, told the Fabian Britishness conference in an education session dominated by debate over the role of faith schools.

'We need to square the circle between the values and strengths of faith schools and the demands of a modern, pluralistic society', said Marsden. 'Faith schools can play a positive role in the discussion about values but they must sign up to the principles of twenty-first century Britain.' Marsden would require a strengthening of citizenship education in all schools and greater centrality for it within the national curriculum.

'Faith schools do not well serve the 6% of the population who are gay, nor the 94% who are heterosexual', contested Ben Summerskill, Chief Executive of Stonewall. Summerskill argued that the Labour government had missed a huge opportunity to dismantle faith schools after 1997 but hoped that such steps may still be taken in a 'Fabian, gradualist, way'. He worried that faith schools 'take children and inculcate them with prejudice against certain communities'.

Summerskill said that level of homophobic bullying that takes place in faith schools could be unduly influenced by 'self-styled community leaders and their crackpot ideas'. Asked about recent comments regarding homosexuality made by fellow panellist, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Chair of the Muslim Council of Britain, Ben Summerskill said that they were 'disgusting and offensive'. 'Stonewall stood shoulder to shoulder with the Muslim Council of Britain after 7/7…something that certainly has not been reciprocated recently.' However, he did say that he was heartened by the fact that 'Sir Iqbal Sacranie only represents a tiny faction of his community' and that Stonewall had received a great many messages from both straight and gay Muslims wishing to disassociate themselves from Sacranie's comments.

In response, Sir Iqbal Sacranie maintained that we 'must respect our neighbour regardless of their background – as a human being'. However, he insisted that 'faith is specific about what is right and what is wrong. I may dislike the practices of other people but I must not denigrate them or incite hatred towards them'. Sir Iqbal said that there is 'no place for prejudice in society' but that 'we must be free to say what we accept and what we do not accept'.

'There was a real move to denigrate the Muslim community after 7/7', argued Sir Iqbal Sacranie. He said that the expansion of faith schools would provide a 'clear indication of the diversity of society' and promote 'shared values and respect of every citizen'. Sir Iqbal argued that 'respect for other faiths is essential'. He claimed that the Muslim Council of Britain was working towards the creation of more Muslim schools, that would teach about the role of citizenship at a 'global level'.

Bishop Roger Sainsbury, of the National Youth Agency, stressed the importance of youth work and extra-curricular activities in promoting tolerance of diversity. 'We need to build respect for people from different faith groups and traditions.'Sainsbury also expressed concern about the Government's 'Respect' agenda, arguing that it risks 'building up fear of the young people amongst the older generation' and that instead 'we need to build bridges between old and young'.

'If we deny the spiritual dimension, as has been done in France, we create anger and resentment. We must promote spiritual development, alongside personal and moral development' said Sainsbury also highlighted the importance of a 'level playing-field' with regards to faith schools, indicating that he would support the creation of more Muslim faith schools.

During a lively debate, conference delegates argued from the floor that there is less racism in our schools in instances where children from different faiths and backgrounds are taught alongside each other. The point was made that mono-cultural societies often create prejudice and ignorance about others and that we should not seek to replicate that in our schools, while another delegate questioned whether faith schools can accommodate difference if they preach that certain differences are intrinsically wrong.

But other delegates argued that the renewed focus on the continued existence of faith schools had achieved such prominence only because of the issue of Muslim schools. It was also suggested that faith schools will continue to thrive as long as people remain prejudiced about faith and expressions of faith are denigrated in public, and that secular viewpoints also needed to respect diversity.

Gordon Marsden said he favoured a 'pragmatic approach' to the issue of faith schools by insisting that all schools placed sufficient emphasis on citizenship and values: 'If faith schools can succeed in producing a tolerant and diverse society then that must be considered to be a good thing'.

Creating Citizens: Are we educating for a shared society? with Gordon Marsden MP, Sir Iqbal Sacranie (Muslim Council of Great Britain); Bishop Roger Sainsbury (National Youth Agency); Ben Summerskill (Stonewall); Chair: Mari Williams (Fabian Executive and secondary school teacher). This panel debate took part at the Fabian New Year Conference 'Who do we want to be? The Future of Britishness' on January 14, 2006, at Imperial College London.

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