Faith-based schools : A threat to social cohesion?

‘The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com '. Copyright Blackwell Publishing. DOI: 10.1111/1467-9752.00295 [Full text of this article is not available in the UHRA]The British government recently announced its willingness to expand the number of state–funded faith schools. It was a decision that aroused considerable controversy, with much of the unease centring around the allegedly divisive nature of such schools. In this article I defend faith schools against the charge that they necessarily undermine social cohesion and show how they can, in fact, legitimately be seen as a force for unity. In addition, I challenge the critics' key assumption that non–denominational schools are inherently better positioned than their faith–based counterparts to promote a tolerant society.Peer reviewe