Which children should get to go to a local tax-payer funded state school? How should it be decided?

I’ve heard from parents in Lancaster who feel the secondary school system is unfair because Ripley St Thomas School selects on church attendance. They feel strongly this is discriminatory against those of other faiths or none and have started a petition: https://www.change.org/p/mrs-gill-jackson-headteacher-end-r… – note they are not calling on the school to be non-religious, they are just calling on it to have an admissions procedure that isn’t selecting on attendance at church. My opinion, for what it’s worth, I don’t think attendance at any place of worship is a reliable indicator of faith…

In a city with five state schools, just one considers all children equally. It doesn’t leave some parents with any choice of local school at all.

If you have strong views, either way, you can take part in the school’s admissions policy consultation. More on the admissions page on the school’s website. http://ripleystthomas.com/ma…/admissions/guide-to-admissions