Marc’s letter of complaint to the, Academies Division.

Subject: King's Academy

Dear Mrs Langan,

Your details were passed to me by an extremely pleasant young man whose name escapes me, but whoever it was is surely a credit to the department.

The purpose of this letter is to detail a complaint I wish to register against King's Academy and in general, against the Emmanuel Schools Foundation for actively discriminating against different faiths and sexualities.

Specifically, in the King's Academy prospectus we find the following:

“Secondly, we have a Christian ethos in which faith and belief are important and where students are encouraged to think for themselves about life’s biggest questions. Children of all faiths and of none are welcome but traditional Christian views form the starting point for these discussions.”

The highlighted point here, I believe, forms a strong foundation of discrimination (albeit by proxy and implication) since it takes an elementary standpoint that fundamental Christian views are correct and, by implication all others are false. This is a fact of extreme Christian (and Hebrew) dogma handed down over many thousands of generations.

Indeed the second of the Old Testament’s Ten Commandments (which Moses brought down from Mount Sinai on a couple of stone tablets) states:

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” - Exodus 20:3

Is a perfect example of the Jehovah-monotheistic argument that “My God is bigger than yours.” And while moderate Christians tolerate and accept other faiths, the extremists by their own teachings, cannot.

The third and fourth commandments get even more brutal, Exodus again:

“Thou shalt not make for thyself any graven image (carved idol) or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, punishing the iniquities of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those that hate me; but showing mercy to thousands of generations of those that love me, and keep my commandments.”

In extreme Christian dogma these form part of the “first table”. These commands must be obeyed by all who follow Him at unless they wish to endure some terrible fate. This theme appears later in the text where Principal McQuoid alludes to “thoughts to God’s nature, His ways and plans and His view of mankind’s place in relationship to Him”

To Homophobia?

While not appearing in the prospectus, Principal McQuoid and John Burn have both made it perfectly clear that they are against homosexual relationships (which their Bible teaches are sins against their god).

"Everyone has the right to hold an opinion, but I don't think I have to respect everyone's opinion. The kids here know that I believe in celibacy before marriage and one partner for life. I don't respect the opinion of people who believe it's fine to live with a partner." - Nigel McQuoid

My point here is Principal McQuoid is leading kids along a very slippery path. This is the 21st Century, not the 19th! We do need moral values sure, but we don't need to quote outdated literature to do it. Mr McQuoid is perfectly welcome to hold an opinion but to teach kids these sorts of opinions is something for the pulpit not the lecturn.

I have had to withdraw my child from this school because of this and now she will have to travel a not inconsiderable distance to get to an underfunded "state" school where life is approached from a balanced perspective unclouded by religious dogma. I noted from my visit to that school that a large numbers of racial minorities have also voted with their feet and gone there too lending some support to my earlier argument.

Several teachers I have spoken to also share this view but are a terrified to come forward such is the perceived power of The Emmanuel Foundation and their supporters. What sort of country is England becoming?

Yours sincerely,

Marc Draco

Academies Division reply.

Dear Marc Draco

Thank you for your e-mail of 24 March, addressed to Jean Langan, regarding the King's Academy in Middlesbrough. I have been asked to reply.

It may be helpful if I first provide some background to the Academies programme. Academies are independent schools funded by the Department through a Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State. All Academies are required to comply with relevant employment legislation. Sponsors from the voluntary and private sectors, church and other faith groups are involved in the establishment and running of Academies. They provide up to £2 million of the capital costs for each Academy with the Government providing the balance and funding recurrent costs. Academies are required to comply with some of the legislation which governors maintained schools and these requirements are part of the Funding Agreement. Amongst other things, the Funding Agreement requires Academies to provide a broad and balanced curriculum and to teach the core and foundation subjects of the National Curriculum. For example, the King's Academy's Funding Agreement states that "the content of Religious Education and Collective Worship will be for the Academy to determine but it will take note of the locally agreed Religious Education syllabus and arrangements established for maintained schools in the area". As is the case for maintained schools, Academies are also required, through their Funding Agreement, to comply with the Schools Admissions Code of Practice and admissions law. They are also required to follow the Code of Practice on Special Education Needs and statutory guidance on inclusion. The DfES has an agreement with Ofsted that they will inspect new Academies.

The Emmanuel Schools Foundation sponsors the King’s Academy in Middlesbrough, which opened in September 2003. As part of their religious education, pupils at the King’s Academy are taught about a variety of religions, not just Christianity. Pupils are encouraged to explore different views, theories and beliefs in many different subjects in the curriculum, using contemporary and historical sources of evidence. This is an essential part of enabling young people to develop their own mature and informed views on moral and ethical issues and to become responsible and active citizens.

Your correspondence has been allocated the reference number 2005/0017772

Yours sincerely

Steve Blackett DELIVERY UNIT ACADEMIES DIVISION

Marc replied that he was unhappy with this response, resulting in the following reply:

Dear Mr Draco

Thank you for your email dated 14 April, which was addressed to Steven Blackett. I am sorry you felt that the response to your original email addressed your concerns inadequately.

Steven gave you some specific information on the religious education delivered at King's Academy and I thought it would be useful if I provided some additional, background information. Academies are independent schools although they must provide a broad and balanced curriculum. This is one of the conditions of their funding agreement. They must teach the National Curriculum core subjects and carry out Key Stage 3 assessment tests. Aside from those requirements, they are free to innovate. However, those freedoms do not extend to exemption from legislation. All schools are bound by laws on discrimination and the King's Academy is no exception.

The Emmanuel Schools Foundation Schools do what is required by law. The National Curriculum syllabus for science requires that the theory of evolution is taught and this requirement is fully met. The National Curriculum specifically states scientific data can be interpreted in different ways and produce different theories (e.g. the theory of evolution). The Academy’s curriculum fully meets these requirements. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector is content with the teaching of Science at Emmanuel College, a City Technology College sponsored by the Emmanuel Schools Foundation.

The Biblical view of creation is taught in Religious Education lessons. Students are taught to consider opposing theories and come to their own, reasoned conclusions. Their approach is consistent with the non-statutory national framework for religious education recently published.

The King's Academy does not use faith as the basis of their admission policy. It is open and inclusive to all pupils and has a higher share of Muslim students than adjoining schools. Emmanuel College has a much higher proportion of students from other faiths. Teachers are likewise recruited on merit and do not need to be practising Christians. Different faiths are covered in the curriculum and pupils are taught about a variety of religions. No particular view is imposed upon them.

All schools, including Academies, have procedures in place to deal with issues which parents have not been able to resolve on an informal basis. I can only suggest you contact the King's Academy should you wish to take this further.

Your correspondence has been allocated the reference number 2005/0021409

Yours sincerely

Jean Langan DELIVERY UNIT ACADEMIES DIVISION 01325 39 2377