http://wiki.cotch.net Contains information on the Vardy Foundation, here & the transcript of a radio interview with Peter Vardy, here. Under the discussion tab, I have added a further article that examines some of the reasons why creationism is being allowed to be taught in English secondary schools, here.

The New Fundamentalists The following is a transcript of a section of Rod Liddle’s recent C4 program, The New Fundamentalists (C4 – 6 Mar 06). Here he interviews 2 teachers, 2 former pupils of Emmanuel College & Nigel McQuoid.

Academics fight rise of creationism at universities (21 Feb 06)
A growing number of science students on British campuses and in sixth form colleges are challenging the theory of evolution and arguing that Darwin was wrong. Some are being failed in university exams because they quote sayings from the Bible or Qur'an as scientific fact and at one sixth form college in London most biology students are now thought to be creationists.

Jurassic Theology Professor David Colquhoun, FRS, gives his opinion of creationism.

A lesson they don't need (29 Oct 03)
What should you do if your child attends a church school - but you are an atheist? Sarah Edghill says she will try to make her son reject religion.

Where frivolity has no place? (30 May 03)
A teacher at Emmanuel College tells Michael Shaw of the school's controversial regime, which led him to leave

Transcript of “File on 4” - Academies
“After only a year or two, some have already begun to transform opportunities for children in their neighbourhoods.
But as the first review of academies arrives at the Department for Education, File On 4 has already discovered problems with the policy. It gives unprecedented power to wealthy businesses. There’s a ferocious dispute with the government’s own school inspectors. And there are signs of a fundamental flaw – popular academies may end up not teaching the most disadvantaged children, the very group they’re meant for.”

What a creation ... (15 Jan 05) When Doncaster's mayor and the Labour council wanted to replace a local comprehensive with a new 'academy' sponsored by fundamentalist Christians known to have the enthusiastic backing of Tony Blair, two mothers began a parents' revolt. John Harris reports on an unexpected outcome.

How car dealers can run state schools (30 sep 04) Jane says Nigel McQuoid, the headteacher, advised her to withdraw him to avoid the stigma of having him expelled, though there may have been a misunderstanding between them. She at any rate telephoned the local education authority to talk about this. Officials however said she must wait for the school to expel her son, otherwise no alternative would be found for him.

Begotten, not created? (25 Nov 03) Alice Wignall asks whether religion has a place in the classroom when science teachers tackle evolution.

Religion can't be used as an alibi (19 May 03) Should society tolerate - and subsidise from taxation - schools which teach that natural selection is a myth and that the world was created in six days, just over 4,000 years ago? Sir Peter Vardy, a motorsales tycoon, has already founded such a school in Gateshead and proposes to open two more.

And lo, the car dealer begat an academy of faith (1 May 03) If, as Christian educationalists such as Nigel McQuoid believe, history is "a story in which God speaks and acts", then it seems clear that He has, of late, been kept pretty busy in south Middlesbrough.

Row over proposed Christian school (9 Apr 02)Despite the row over creationist control of a state funded secondary school in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, creationists are now hoping to develop a similar Christian school in South Wales.

The Welsh assembly's education minister, Jane Davidson, said she fears that children might be "brainwashed" and is delighted that a £12m scheme to build a school in Torfaen has been, so far, blocked.

Bishop warns Blair over danger of creationism (7 Apr 02) In a letter to the Prime Minister, the group - which includes Sir David Attenborough and Astronomer Royal Sir Martin Rees, as well as six bishops, including those of St Albans and Hereford - expresses concern over the introduction of creationism in British schools, a problem that has in the past been confined to American education.

There but for the grace of God... (25 Mar 02) Emmanuel Headteacher, Nigel McQuoid, told the Guardian it was 'fascist' to say that schools should not consider creationist theories. Presumably it's 'fascist' to reject the flat earth theory and alchemy as well.

In 1997 McQuoid and his predecessor John Burn wrote: "To teach children that they are nothing more than developed mutations who evolved from something akin to a monkey and that death is the end of everything is hardly going to engender within them a sense of purpose, self-worth and self-respect."

The facts about evolution (19 Mar 02) Please will somebody explain to Elizabeth Bennett and all the other confuseniks (Letters, March 19) what "theory" means in the context of science. It does not mean "hypothesis" but the body of methodological tools and data which provide a context for scientific investigation.

Top school's creationists preach value of biblical story over evolution (9 Mar 02) Fundamentalist Christians who do not believe in evolution have taken control of a state-funded secondary school in England. In a development which will astonish many British parents, creationist teachers at the city technology college in Gateshead are undermining the scientific teaching of biology in favour of persuading pupils of the literal truth of the Bible.