Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The proposal would tighten the rules on school admissions where religion is involved. It would limit a State-funded school’s ability to favour children of its own faith unless that preference is truly needed to ensure local children of that faith can get a place, and it would reaffirm that any child in a publicly funded school must be able to attend without being required to take religious instruction. It matters because it tries to balance the religious character of some schools with fair access for children whose families want a nearby school place.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to provide for certain changes in relation to discrimination on grounds of religion in certain educational establishments; for that purpose to amend the Equal Status Act 2000; and to provide for connected matters

Last updated 13 February 2020