Evangelical school to get state funds
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A school run by the evangelical Seventh Day Adventist Church is set to receive state funding for the first time from September.
David Blunkett, the Secretary of State for Education, has told the John Loughborough School in Haringey, north London, that he "is minded" to approve its application to become grant maintained.
British Humanists said they were horrified that public money was being used to support a body which denied that evolution existed and which would increase religious divisions between children.
Two months ago state funding was granted for the first two Muslim schools in Britain.
Parents pay fees of pounds 715 a term at the 150-pupil John Loughborough School, one of two secondary and eight primary schools run by the church.
Government sources said ministers were minded to fund the school because it had local support and high standards.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church, which has many members in the Afro- Caribbean community, broke away from the Baptist church in America in the last century.
Keith Davidson, the church's education director, said: "We are absolutely delighted. For three and a half years we have been trying to get state funding just like the Roman Catholics, the Church of England, the Methodists and the Jews." He said his church was Creationist - it believes that everything that exists had its origin in acts of creation by God.
He said:"We would not accept the Darwinian theory of Creation but that is also true of some other Christian churches."
Robert Ashby, director of the British Humanist Association, said: "We are totally against sectarian education which impedes the development of a more integrated and tolerant society. They are out on a limb compared with most other Christians. Even the Pope has accepted evolution.
"Why should children have their parents' views as the governing factor in their education? It is very sad."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments