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University of Warwick institutional repository: http://go.warwick.ac.uk/wrap A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of Warwick http://go.warwick.ac.uk/wrap/3115 This thesis is made available online and is protected by original copyright. Please scroll down to view the document itself. Please refer to the repository record for this item for information to help you to cite it. Our policy information is available from the repository home page. An Investigation of the New Independent Christian Schools: What kind of citizens are they producing? by Sylvia G Baker A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education University of Warwick, Institute of Education November 2009 1 Contents List of tables.............................................................................................................vi Acknowledgements...................................................................................................x Declaration................................................................................................................x Abbreviations...........................................................................................................xi Summary...................................................................................................................1 Introduction..............................................................................................................2 Chapter 1 “Faith” schools: the controversy...........................................................7 1.1 Faith-based schools: the wider controversy...........................................8 1.1.1 Are faith-based schools divisive?...........................................11 1.1.2 Are faith-based schools indoctrinatory?.................................13 1.1.3 Citizenship and the liberal agenda.........................................15 1.2 Faith-based schools: the church-linked controversy...........................16 1.3 Existing empirical evidence................................................................18 1.3.1 Citizenship..............................................................................19 1.3.2 Parental expectations..............................................................19 1.4 Conclusion...........................................................................................22 Chapter 2 The new Christian schools: their origins and history.......................23 2.1 What are the new Christian schools?............................................. .....23 2.1.1 Focus Learning Trust..............................................................27 2.1.2 Free Presbyterian Schools.......................................................28 2.2 The roots of the new Christian schools movement..............................28 2.2.1 The ―reformed‖ influence.......................................................30 2.2.2 The ―charismatic‖ influence...................................................32 2.2.3 Influences from overseas........................................................33 2.3 How do the schools differ in practice?................................................36 2.3.1 Curriculum and approaches to learning..................................37 2.3.2 School governance..................................................................37 2.3.3 School structure......................................................................38 2.3.4 Funding...................................................................................38 2.3.5 The pupil population...............................................................39 2.3.6 Further possible differences...................................................40 i 2.4 Connecting bodies...............................................................................40 2 2.4.1 The Christian Schools Trust...................................................41 2.4.2 Christian Education Europe....................................................44 2.4.3 Unaffiliated schools................................................................45 2.5 Growth or Decline?..............................................................................46 2.6 Conclusion...........................................................................................47 Chapter 3 The new Christian schools: why were they founded?.......................48 3.1 A response to the secularisation of society and of education..............49 3.2 The creation/evolution debate.............................................................51 3.3 Further specific issues..........................................................................52 3.4 The need for a Christian curriculum....................................................54 3.5 Curriculum practice within the new Christian schools........................56 3.5.1 Accelerated Christian Education (ACE).................................56 3.5.2 Further curriculum models within the new Christian schools.58 3.5.2.1 The Trinity Model...........................................................58 3.5.2.2 The creation/fall/redemption model................................59 3.5.2.3 The ―three domain‖ model..............................................59 3.5.3 Science in the curriculum........................................................59 3.5.4 Creation and evolution in the curriculum................................61 3.5.5 The National Curriculum.........................................................64 3.6 Conclusion...........................................................................................66 Chapter 4 The new Christian schools: the impact of political changes.............69 4.1 The National Curriculum.....................................................................70 4.2 Changes to inspection and registration law.........................................71 4.2.1 Inspection of spiritual and moral values..................................73 4.2.2 Co-operation between faith groups..........................................74 4.2.3 Bridge Schools Inspectorate....................................................75 4.3 The ―civil liberties‖ case......................................................................77 4.4 Changes to employment law................................................................81 4.5 The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007...................83 4.6 Political interference and the teaching of creationism.........................87 4.7 Christian Schools Campaign................................................................93 4.8 Conclusion...........................................................................................96 ii 3 Chapter 5 The survey of pupils: its context, methodology, target population and respondents....................................................................................97 5.1 The survey: its context........................................................................97 5.1.1 The expectations of parents and churches...............................98 5.1.2 The fears and criticism associated with the schools................98 5.2 The survey: its methodology...............................................................99 5.2.1 The instrument.........................................................................99 5.2.1.1 Religious beliefs...........................................................100 5.2.1.2 Science and creation.....................................................104 5.2.1.3 Personal concerns.........................................................105 5.2.1.4 Views and moral values................................................108 5.3 Data collection...................................................................................112 5.4 Data analysis......................................................................................113 5.5 The target population.........................................................................114 5.6 The respondents.................................................................................114 Chapter 6 The pupils: their religious beliefs and attitudes to religion............118 6.1 Attitude to religion............................................................................118 6.2 Religious beliefs................................................................................123 6.3 Life after death..................................................................................124 6.4 Attitude to Christianity......................................................................126 6.5 Images of God...................................................................................129 6.6 Church and society.............................................................................131 6.7 Non-traditional beliefs ......................................................................133 6.8 Luck and superstition.........................................................................135 6.9 Conclusion.........................................................................................138 Chapter 7 The pupils: their beliefs concerning science and creation..............140 7.1 Creation and evolution.......................................................................148 7.2 Science and the Bible.........................................................................154 7.3 Scientism............................................................................................158 7.4 Conclusion.........................................................................................161