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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