Emmanuel Schools Foundation
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The Emmanuel Schools Foundation (previously the Vardy Foundation after its founder, Sir Peter Vardy) intends to set up a total of seven specialist independent schools in the UK under the Government's City Academies Initiative. Under this scheme the provision of some initial sponsorship gives the backer the right to influence the ethos of the school by hand-picking the initial board of governers. This is controversial because of Vardy's fundamentalist Christian beliefs.
Overview
A key feature of the foundation's schools is the emphasis on teaching Christian beliefs, although the foundation is keen to stress that there has never been a religious dimension to its Student Intake Policy. In particular, students are encouraged to consider the claims of the Bible, including creationism, alongside the standard National Curriculum.
As of April 2004 two schools are already in existence - The King's Academy in Middlesbrough and Emmanuel College in Gateshead, with a third, Trinity Academy set to replace Doncaster's Thorne Grammar School in summer 2005. The foundation has also put forward an 'expression of interest' in opening a second Academy in the Doncaster area, this time in the town of Conisbrough. The scheme, which is enthusiastically backed by Conisbrough council's Aidan Rave and Doncaster Mayor Martin Winter, would almost certainly mean the closure of Conisbrough's Northcliffe School. Following recent protests by parents of Conisbrough's Northcliffe School the plans for a new academy have been scrapped.
The Emmanuel Schools Foundation aspires to run seven schools (seven being a biblically significant number). In September 2005 Nigel McQuoid (currently principal of the King's Academy) is to become co-ordinator of the entire foundation, ensuring its proper running. Chris Drew, who was educated in nearby Stockton-on-Tees, (and current head of sixth form at the King's Academy) is to take the reigns as principal.
The three schools that form the foundation are forming a strong alliance - with the King's Academy hosting the Emmanuel Schools Olympic Games. Staff from each of the schools are encouraged to trade ideas and have best practice forums.
Although the literal word of the Bible is conveyed during what is known as "tutor prayers" the Head of the Science, Electronics and Engineering Department at the King's, John Dear, has said on many occasions that the teaching of creationism will not form part of the cirriculum. So it does need to be clear that creationism does have its place in the foundation but this place is in Philosophy, Thelogy and Ethics lessons and not science lessons.
External links
- Official site (http://www.emmanuelctc.org.uk/)
- Emmanuel Schools Foundation (http://www.evowiki.org/index.php/Emmanuel_Schools_Foundation) on EvoWiki, including a list of news articles and editorials.
- Black Shadow (http://www.blackshadow.co.uk/), an anti-Emmanuel Schools campaign site
- Conisbrough And Denaby Parents Action Group, a group against the Emmanuel Schools Foundation from taking over Northcliffe Comprehensive (they group has won its case) (http://www.cadpag.co.uk/)