Why do we still have faith schools in the UK?

I was not aware that the UK mandates religion being taught in all schools. This really comes as a shock to me, Here in the US we have many who don't like that religion is not taught in public schools as they want to promote their beliefs in an environment that is not appropriate. I always felt very awkward, however, when I was a kid as we had to say the Pledge of Allegiance (which has the line "Under God") every morning in class. I respect others' religion, but they just don't get it that my non-belief is never respected. There is a place and time for everything, and as soon as everyone really understands this, we can all get along so much better and move forward as human beings.

Thanks Jimmie. I've added a link and a bit more detail on the nature of the worship required. The law states that it must be of a broadly Christian nature most of the time unless an exemption is sought - e.g. there are some multi-faith schools in London.

In England it would normally be Church of England which is a very diluted Christianity compared to the American version. I'm not sure how strictly the rules are followed, I'm about to find out for my local school.

On the science point, it does make me uncomfortable. One one hand you are saying how important it is to have good evidence for your views, or the other you are told to take things on faith. These views do seem incompatible to me though I agree that some scientists hold religious views. I don't think pointing to the past on this is fair though, you didn't have much choice but to be religious in public, and in a different time I would probably have been deeply religious, maybe I'd be religious now if I'd grown up in the US, the culture around you has a very deep effect and it's hard to go against the majority.

Thanks for the disclaimer. (You absolutely have a right to not believe. I respect that totally. I consider it a foundation of American freedom.)

I'm sort of flabbergasted by this information. (American here.) Our public schools are strictly secular. You say that state schools have to teach religious doctrine. Wow. What religion? What doctrine of that religion? There are just so many. I can't imagine how a school could teach them ALL or choose which to teach. I am filled with questions about that statement.

I don't think it's a good idea to pretend to be something you are not simply for financial or educational benefit. So I applaud your not sending your children to Christian schools.

As far as the same teachers teaching religion and science, I see no contradiction at all. Most of the great men of science were also men of faith. Science and religion are NOT at odds despite what the New Atheists would have us to believe.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience Prospero.
Since I wrote this I've visited the school a couple of times and met more of the other parents. Interestingly several of them expressed similar views to my own which is reassuring.
And the school has just reported very good academic results too, even more of an achievement when you know that the intake includes less advantaged children.
Now I just need to work out what to do when he comes home after a religious assembly asking who this god bloke is ...

I'm a failed Humanist, but then again I'm a failed Christian too. I was raised C of E in the North-East of England, but I married a Catholic in a Catholic Church. The priest asked me to do everything in my power to raise my kids as Catholics. I didn't have any at the time, but I heeded his words and respected them. My wife and I were fairly laissez-faire, so we raised three children at the best school in West London over the years, and I had to swallow some home truths, and be a more active churchgoer. Perhaps I was mercenary, but I knew that if I got one in the rest would follow, and in my opinion they got the best education. Over a period of twenty years I saw three children go through primary and secondary catholic education. That's a long time, and there were times I thought it would never end. That's what happens when you have kids with age ranges of three and five years between them. It's a commitment. I started when one was five in 1986, and finished when the youngest was sixteen in 2005.
They got a great education, (or at least they had access to it) but I'm not sure if they turned out any different than if we'd sent them elsewhere. I'm not sure if things have changed, but during those years we regularly had to pay diocese fees, and they were significant over the years.
Your page reflects my own feelings, and if I had my time over I would not have been so vigorous on giving them that Catholic education. They are all adults now, and I suspect they have rejected all that their faith school attempted to ingratiate - just as I expected. Are they better people because of it? Well - they never got into trouble, never took drugs, never took to alcohol, never were disrespectful to their elders, (other than general adolescent posturing) but they were still bloody difficult.

Personally, I think they will not send their own children to a faith school. I think they lived through it and rejected it. I think that diversity, free from religious hang ups, combined with a solid curriculum which respects all cultures is the way forward. Sadly, this is idealism yet to be realised. The facts are that culturally the UK is becoming ever more individually secular. Neither governments nor teachers can address this without the unanimous support of parents. If the parents are culturally poles apart, then your words of wisdom, commendable as they are, will be difficult to implement.

Thanks very much for taking the time to comment. If this doesn't work out then maybe we'll consider homeschooling but at this point I do think school has a lot to offer. I'm just at the beginning of this though.

I had no idea this system prevailed in the UK nor that there were publicly funded faith schools. Interesting dilemma but as a homeschooler I have little advice for you.