New school in the heart of East Dulwich!

[Muttley]

And it's opening in September 2008, I kid you not. Like Alleyns, it will cater for 4-18 year olds, it's a short walk from East Dulwich station and Lordship Lane, and in a beautiful, imposing building. With secondary fees of ?7,000 per year it's not cheap, but it's a lot cheaper than Alleyns. Unlike the Harris Academy, it won't be crammed with 900 boys. And its meals will be organic, too!

Is there a catch? I fear there might be. It's called the New Hope Christian school, opening in the building on the corner of Matham Grove and East Dulwich Grove, and taking over from the Seventh Day Adventist school that used to operate there. I know this because there's an A4 sheet about it stuck crudely over the old Adventist signs.

Quite how such a small building will accommodate the full age range from 4-18 is not clear. Pupils will leave school with the 'International Certificate of Christian Education'. And the website doesn't make clear how their biology lessons will tackle evolution.

But hey, it adds to the mix I suppose.

Did anyone ever have any contact with its predecessor? I can't remember ever seeing any children in that building, but I suppose I don't tend to go past during school hours.

[Curmudgeon]

I think I've spotted the catch(es): it's a christian school (atheists and other world religions need not apply I assume); it offers a generally unrecognised certificate rather than A'Levels or baccalaureate and it costs 7K per year per child

that'll be 3, did I miss any?

:)

edited to say I've found their website: here

[Mark]

I assume it's East Dulwich Grove and not East Dulwich Road.

Personally I don't like faith schools because they exclude children because of their parent's faith etc etc and I would rather they don't spread their exclusive and false preachings to vulnerable youngsters round these parts.

[Muttley]

It's good to see they've got their priorities right. In 'about the school', Eating comes first, ahead of Curriculum.

*Mark, you're right, East Dulwich Grove have just edited my first post*

[demery]

The ICCE qualification teaches creationism come intelligent design. It's simple as that.

If it comes down to it, I'll picket the place.

This approach to education was thrown out in the US (by a Bush appointed right wing christian judge). We should do the same.

[AcedOut]

Turn the place into flats before it's too late! ;)

[James]

Is this a joke? That's the very last thing East Dulwich needs, a school run by crackpot Bible bashers. And if the fees are 7k a year in London the quality of education will be bargain basement as well as fundamentalist.

I think faith schools are evil. We don't have schools for different races or cultures so why is religion a justifiable means of social apartheid?

[KalamityKel]

Why should we? <-- in response to the "getting rid/banning" post

[demery]

http://www.pennywiselearning.com/ACE-School-of-Tomorrow.html

gives some background on ACE (now rebadged as ICCE)

If you look around, they're an intolerant bunch as far as the gay community goes too.

[James]

I might set up a school for gay kids - perhaps Lord Harris could sponsor it? Then we could call it Harris High for Homos. We will preach intolerance towards Christians and followers of similar barbaric and irrational cults.

[Mark]

from the shool's website:

"Social studies curriculum looks at world history and cultures from the perspective that God is the Designer, Creator, and Controller of the universe. As a result, to study social studies is to study responses of people to the truth of the Word of God. Beginning in the Garden of Eden, man?s failure to abide by the principles of God is traced throughout history."

How can it be right to teach children that these days?

[KoolBananas]

a specialist school! Fabulous!

[bawdy-nan]

faith schools don't necessarily exclude people of other faiths or none. Most of the local church schools don't have faith as a criteria of entry. Some allocate a number of places on religious grounds but not all places.

[david_carnell]

Good grief, who allows these morons a teaching license. A biology teacher proclaiming creationism!?! They should be ashamed.

I fear, however, there is little we can do. And what's worse, if they begin to get good league table placings expect parents to be converting quick smart.

[James]

What I really object to is the brainwashing aspect. How can it be legal to teach a load of old stories as established fact to young kids? We don't have schools that teach history and morality through the lens of Grimm's Fairy Tales or Greek Myths so why should Christianity be any different?

No wonder society seems fragmented when there are places like this opening all over the place...

[KoolBananas]

Its worth pointing out too that it's not a "new" school. It's been there for a good while

[Keef]

Exactly right Bawdy-nan. I do believe in kids making their own choices, but I don't disagree with faith schools.

However, this one looks a bit mental. I saw a programme about an academy up in Middlesborough or there abouts, where they taught the biblical creation story as part of the history curriculem, and then told them, "however, you'll need to write this in your GCSE papers, it's not true, but it's what the unbelievers want to hear".

[demery]

The point is that faith schools should not teach creationism or intelligent design as accepted science or fact. When it is neither.

It is clearly a religious view and should be kept as such. The curriculum should reflect this.

These lot used to teach the earth was flat and it was heresy to think anything else. You wouldn't want that taught in schools and the principle is exactly the same.

Evolution is one of the most widely supported and accepted theorys in the scientific community. It is supported by masses of evidence and peer group reviews.

Nothing of the like can be said for ID or creationism.Both are unfalsifiable, which means they should not be taught as science.

Rant over.

[Jamma]

Surely this school won't be appearing on any league tables if it's not teaching GCSEs etc.

Isn't there some sort of law that says kids have to sit GCSEs? What sort of job can you apply for with a 'I'm a Good Christian' certificate?

[Keef]

david_carnell Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I fear, however, there is little we can do. And

> what's worse, if they begin to get good league

> table placings expect parents to be converting

> quick smart.

There was a conversation about this on here a good while back. I hate when people will pretend to follow a religion, that they'd otherwise laugh about, for a few weeks to get a school place!

[Keef]

demery Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The point is that faith schools should not teach

> creationism or intelligent design as accepted

> science or fact. When it is neither.

>

> It is clearly a religious view and should be kept

> as such. The curriculum should reflect this.

>

> These lot used to teach the earth was flat and it

> was heresy to think anything else. You wouldn't

> want that taught in schools and the principle is

> exactly the same.

>

> Evolution is one of the most widely supported and

> accepted theorys in the scientific community. It

> is supported by masses of evidence and peer group

> reviews.

> Nothing of the like can be said for ID or

> creationism.Both are unfalsifiable, which means

> they should not be taught as science.

>

> Rant over.

I don't think anyone on here would argue with any of that whether they are for against or against faith schools as a whole. I went to a faith school, but I certainly didn't leave thinking that God had thrown the earth together on a whim because he had an opening in his diary one week.

[James]

Totally agree. I think it's quite shameful that schools are allowed to peddle this Medieval nonsense while the unfortunate few gay kids who are sent to them have to keep their sexuality a secret. Heard recently about a girl at one such school who confided to a sports teacher that she thought she might be a lesbian. She was made to sit outside the changing rooms while the other girls showered.

What vile hypocrisy.

[david_carnell]

Jamma Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Surely this school won't be appearing on any

> league tables if it's not teaching GCSEs etc.

> Isn't there some sort of law that says kids have

> to sit GCSEs? What sort of job can you apply for

> with a 'I'm a Good Christian' certificate?

Theologian? Vicar? Tom Cruise's assistant?

[KoolBananas]

How is the issue of sexuality any different from this particular school to "normal" schools?

James Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Totally agree. I think it's quite shameful that

> schools are allowed to peddle this Medieval

> nonsense while the unfortunate few gay kids who

> are sent to them have to keep their sexuality a

> secret. Heard recently about a girl at one such

> school who confided to a sports teacher that she

> thought she might be a lesbian. She was made to

> sit outside the changing rooms while the other

> girls showered.

>

> What vile hypocrisy.

[Mark]

And getting it back to East Dulwich, are there many faith schools in the area? Are they generally as fundamentalist as this one being discussed?