Faith schools don’t provide better results

April 3, 2017

New research published by IPPR Scotland, supported by Humanist Society Scotland, has debunked the myth that denominational schools in Scotland provide better educational outcomes for pupils than non-denominational schools.

The respected research body found that there is no evidence to suggest that denominational schools have any better performance than their non-denominational equivalents. The research showed that 45.37 per cent of pupils in religious schools get three highers or more compared to 45.96 in non-denominational schools.

The report also recommended that decisions on education provision should only be made by those with a democratic mandate, this supports the HSS Enlighten Up! campaign for the end to religious reps sitting on and voting on crucial educational committees.

Overall attainment does not differ significantly between denominational and non-denominational schools, and there is no evidence to suggest that one school type or the other has better performance.
IPPR Scotland, 2017

Commenting on the report’s findings, Gordon MacRae, Chief Executive of Humanist Society Scotland, said:

“Today’s report reveals there is no evidence, of any merit, to back up claims that denominational schools produce better educational outcomes for students that non-denominational schools.

“The evidence points to parental involvement, and not a school’s religious character, as the key to success.

“It is clear therefore that segregating school pupils should play no part in closing Scotland’s education attainment gap.”

He added:

“Humanist Society Scotland fully endorses IPPR Scotland’s call for all new education decision making bodies to be democratically accountable. To this end we hope that Scottish Ministers will remove the existing requirement for local authorities to appointment religious reps to education committees at the soonest possible opportunity.”

IPPR Report

Humanist Society Scotland supported IPPR Scotland to consider the question of school governance and the attainment gap. The report is third party, and independent, and as such does not represent Humanist Society Scotland views. As always, full editorial control was retained by IPPR Scotland, IPPR’s dedicated cross-party, independent think tank for Scotland.