Originally published 12 June 2002

The 2002 series of Warwick Policy Briefings got underway last month with a discussion on the future of faith schools led by Professor Robert Jackson, Director of the Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit in the Institute of Education. The policy briefing also involved Lord Dearing who conducted a major review of church schools for the Church of England, Marilyn Mason, Education Officer for the British Humanist Association and Abdullah Trevathan who is head of Islamia Primary School in London, the first state-funded Muslim school in the UK.

In the official report on the race riots in a number of Northern towns and cities last summer faith schools were identified as a possible cause of polarisation and division within communities. Following an introduction from Professor Jackson on the development of religious schools the panel debated the findings of the report and their implications on the future of faith schools in the UK.

The discussion attracted senior representatives from politics (including five members of the House of Lords), the policy community and all types of faith school.

Further policy briefings in this series include Professor Daniele Joly on immigration Policy, Dr Simon Croom on e-purchasing, Professor Andrew Oswald on public sector pay bargaining and a discussion on public private partnership between Warwick graduates Val Gooding, Chief Executive of BUPA and Dave Prentice, General Secretary of Unison.

All policy briefings take place at the University’s London office in Westminster at 11 Tufton Street.