Making Space for Faith in FE

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Published: 19 July 2007

Making Space for Faith in FE

An overwhelming number of students and staff think that colleges should provide for people’s faith and belief needs.

These were the findings of a national enquiry into opportunities for spiritual and moral development in further education, undertaken by the National Ecumenical Agency in Further Education (NEAFE) and the Faiths in Further Education Forum (FiFEF).

A full report on the enquiry, "Making space for faith: values, beliefs and faiths in the learning and skills sector", has been published by the Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) and NEAFE.

The purpose of the enquiry was to build up a picture of:

· the role of the sector in enabling all members of society, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic background, values, beliefs and faiths, to engage with one another in shaping a positive approach to 21st-century pluralism

· the views of learners and staff in colleges and in workplaces on issues of values, beliefs and faiths

· how the system and its stakeholders could improve responses to learner and staff needs in relation to issues of values, beliefs and faiths in a way that is in keeping with the sector’s economic, educational and social missions

A total number of 41 colleges and 924 individual students & staff participated in the enquiry, which found that:

· Almost three quarters of students (74%) were more likely to feel part of a college or workplace that actively encouraged dialogue and activities between people and communities of diverse faiths and beliefs

· 79% of students, regardless of their own personal beliefs, thought that colleges should provide for people’s faith and belief needs

· Almost three quarters of staff surveyed (73%) thought that legal entitlement to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development provided for learners in school sixth forms through the 1944 Education Act should be extended to cover students and trainees over the age of 16 in the learning and skills sector

The report offers a number of recommendations for the government, agencies, colleges, learning providers, churches and faith communities.

Launching the publication on 16 July 2007, the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning and Further and Higher Education, Bill Rammell, said:

"This report comes at an important time for further education when we are working with colleagues from across the system to review how to strengthen its contribution to community cohesion.

Positively recognising learners’ spiritual and moral needs is part of this and will enable FE to provide a personalised learning experience and to contribute towards the prevention of extremism.

The report includes some very helpful examples of good practice and research material on addressing faith needs."

Dr Ann Limb, who is chair of NEAFE and led the enquiry, said:

"It is clear from what learners, as well as their tutors and leaders, told us that people are more likely to feel part of a college that actively encourages dialogue and activities between people from diverse belief and faith backgrounds.

Colleges have a critical role to play in community integration and cohesion, and by working actively with their local faith and belief communities, can fulfil this role effectively."

CEL’s chief executive, Lynne Sedgmore, said:

"Understanding the views and needs of learners and staff on issues of values, beliefs and faiths is an important part of our commitment to ensuring equality and diversity of opportunity throughout the further education system.

We believe that faith issues should have a higher profile within leadership dialogue in the 21st century, and that the FE system has a valuable role to play in encouraging community cohesion and providing opportunities for all.

We are delighted to be involved with NEAFE in publishing the findings of this national enquiry."

NEAFE and FiFEF are in the process of forming a single new body, the National Councils of Faiths and Beliefs in FE:

· This is to replace both NEAFE and FiFEF and to reflect the changing needs of the sector & society in relation to social integration and community cohesion and the critical role that colleges play in working with faith and belief groups

· The NCFB will be launched in 2008

Further information

National Ecumenical Agency in Further Education (NEAFE)

Faiths in Further Education Forum (FiFEF).

Making space for faith: values, beliefs and faiths in the learning and skills sector

Quality Improvement Agency (QIA)

Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances

Centre for Excellence

NEAFE – Related documents

ESRC – Faith-based voluntary action

Faith & Public Policy Forum - King's College London

VS Magazine article – Beyond Belief