Faith-based school planned for Falmouth and Penryn

2:30pm Wednesday 30th January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Greg Fountain, Reporter/Photographer

A new primary school for Falmouth and Penryn, the first of its kind in Cornwall, could be built by next year.

A group calling themselves Three16 after a Bible scripture want to create a new Christian-designated "free school" that will be open to other faiths.

Free schools were introduced by the current government in 2010 and are taxpayer-funded but not controlled by the local education authority.

Eventually the group of parents and early years specialists, who are lead by Mylor woman Laura Dancer, also hope to offer secondary schooling.

 

A meeting at Raze The Roof in Penryn is scheduled for Tuesday February 12 from 6.30pm. Its aim is to drum up support for the school and "build links" with local businesses and organisations.

Comments(29)

Wave says...
2:50pm Wed 30 Jan 13

I'm still waiting for a new Jedi Accademy.
A Winnie the Pooh and friends designated primary would be the first choice for my children though.
Disney have more funding perhaps.
Disney now own rights to Star Wars so I could get both my wants.
I don't know who owns the rights to Christianity/Bible, the story is not so popular as it once was though.

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fantana75 says...
5:56pm Wed 30 Jan 13

Having just read Richard Dawkins - The God Delusion it shows how flawed all religions are.
As Wave suggested a Jedi Academy would be more worthy. It's certainly more believable.

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ucsweb says...
8:39am Thu 31 Jan 13

A Jedi Academy is a good idea. Perhaps they could do evening classes for adults!

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Aberfalman says...
11:11am Thu 31 Jan 13

Shame on this government for providing the mechanism these theists to indoctrinate children with this Bronze Age mumbo jumbo.
School should be about education, not instilling these delusions.

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Wave says...
12:00pm Thu 31 Jan 13

David Cameron just like Tony Blair was, is a committed puppet to faith and archaic morality too. On our behalf....

If you like a laugh, take look at three16's website with their Falmouth/Penryn school goals and ethos.

I don't think they will be much different to St. Marys school in Falmouth, they also do the "ethos".

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molesworth says...
1:08pm Thu 31 Jan 13

I thought I was the only one in Cornwall who thought all this religion stuff was nonsense, and even dangerous! Surely when we look at what's happening in the world right now we don't want to encourage people, children, to have religious beliefs? As far as I can see it only leads to someone somewhere being persecuted. Can't we atheists protest against this proposal?

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Gill Zella Martin 09 says...
1:18pm Thu 31 Jan 13

No one is obliged to send their children to the school if they don't want to. It is a matter of personal choice.

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ucsweb says...
1:47pm Thu 31 Jan 13

No not obliged. But as a tax payer, obliged to pay for it! That is NOT a matter of personal choice.

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Gill Zella Martin 09 says...
2:47pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Well I am paying for things that I don't use but that's what living in a democratic society is all about, it is the current governments initiative having free schools. I did not vote for this government.

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Wave says...
7:37pm Thu 31 Jan 13

It's not just an issue of something you don't value, it's a case of something that (I myself) think is an abuse of children and vulnerable adults.
Parents are not obliged to physically abuse their children but it still happens in the UK. The same with faith. It's a form of psychological abuse.

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molesworth says...
10:20pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Yes, Wave. Exactly. It seriously worries me. And it scares me to think that seemingly normally people believe the world was made in seven days and that some sort of sentient being that won't reveal itself (I'm talking about really revealing itself) listens and somehow 'answers' their prayers. Come off it!
And then there's the millions of people who think it's a good thing to kill 'unbelievers'. It is not right.
Let's keep religion (or 'cultism' as I myself think of it) well away from education.

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molesworth says...
10:24pm Thu 31 Jan 13

And this is what this new christian sect 'Three16' who want to educate children, base their teachings on: 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'
Go figure.

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Lanty Slee says...
10:56pm Thu 31 Jan 13

I tend to turn the other cheek with this sort of thing...

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falmouthobserver says...
12:23am Sat 2 Feb 13

As long as the religious heritage of a school doesn't bias teaching, and kids are taught of the merits of science and the problems with creationist theories, im game. Kids need discipline and a good moral backbone

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Jean1948 says...
7:17pm Sat 2 Feb 13

I do not believe faith schools are a good thing. The recent views from so called Christian worshippers that I have been reading recently with regards to the same sex marriage proposal have been far from pleasant. Children need to be taught about the real world and not based on the bible which was written many moons ago. If god were here today I'm 100% sure he would create an updated version. God loves everyone, no matter what your gender, skin colour, sexuality etc and that's what schools need to be teaching. I don't think a school like this would be well received. I wouldn't want my grandchildren to attend this school, I'm not saying they shouldn't learn about religion but they need to know about the real world. I also cannot believe this would be funded by tax payers money!

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Gill Zella Martin 09 says...
8:32pm Sat 2 Feb 13

My daughter went to a Church Of England school, my son never went to any school at all hardly, and I am a Methodist, none of us however judge other people, we are certainly not racist we do not preach to other people, or care what anyone's sexuality is. Just because I have a faith it does not make me holier than thou nor does it make me pretend everything is fine when it isn't within either religion or everyday life. I will be the first one to criticize a preacher if I think they are generalising.
I personally am not in favour of any school that is not controlled by the education authority, I think this can lead to things being socially devisive and certainly end up with it being 'parental purse' assisted.

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Penrynner says...
12:20am Mon 4 Feb 13

Well, Well, Well. From all the posts printed here, we can certainly see the mentallity of the majority, and also see exactly what is wrong with the world today. A clear lack of morals, any sense of respect, an arrogance and intolerance, nay, even taking the mickey out of those who believe in God.

Some also criticise the scheme because they will have to pay for it. Well, don't you think those children will have to go to any other school if they didn't go to the proposed new faith school? Where do you think they will get their education? Sorry, but you will be paying for those children to be educated wherever they go.

I will probably not choose the new faith school for my children, but it is faith, a belief in God and a good moral upbringing which lays the foundations in a child for his lifetime. Do you want them growing up with no moral guidance, to run wild in the streets, become feral, like most of the kids who go to Falmouth junior school, or Penryn Junior school? That is where you will find the worst SATS results, the worst behaviour, the worst morals, and when they grow a little older, that is where you will find the most druggies, drunkards, violent yobs, and vandals.

It has often been said that when the children go to the senior school, you can always tell the children who have been to a faith school. They stand out, they are neat, tidy, polite, caring, and nice to each other. Compare that to the rudeness you get, and the foul language, behaviour and early sexualisation of the children which is becoming endemic in society today.

I wish them good luck. I believe in God, am not ashamed of it, and would love to see the qualities which you find in children from faith schools, flourish, grow, and enable them to attain great education and ultimately jobs.

Would you rather they all went to the schools at the bottom of the heap, and become unmarried mothers, druggies, drunks, on the dole, and live on benefits for ever more? Hmmm, thought so.

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Penrynner says...
12:31am Mon 4 Feb 13

Jean1948 ... "God loves everyone, no matter what your gender, skin colour, sexuality etc"

No Jean, God was so angry and abhorred the way in which man lay with man, (homosexuality) and with animals too, that he destroyed Soddom and Gomorrah.

I don't think he loved all that you think.

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Gill Zella Martin 09 says...
1:58am Mon 4 Feb 13

I personally would not generalise between those children that attend a faith school and those that do not, as I have previously said, my daughter attended a Church of England school my son however did not, due to personal circumstances. However, both my children grew up to be polite and respectful of others and both secured jobs earning in excess of £40,000 a year. I and my children respect people of other faiths than our own and those with no religious faith. We additionally respect those of different sexualities than ourselves. We certainly feel it is not our place to judge anyone about anything. I and my children are far from perfect, we just do and say what we happen to think is right at the time. The eventuality being that It may very well transpire that we are completely wrong about many things, if this proves to be the case then we will always be happy to apologize. I personally believe that tolerance and compassion can go a long way, I am not always very successful at this but I do try.

I have no problem with paying towards anything in society that I personally may not use or benefit from as I previously stated, that is what living in a democratic society is all about.
My personal views on any school that is not controlled by the education authority are based on the academy status school that my two grandchildren attend, because this has shown signs in my opinion of being socially devisive because of the financial input expected by parents.

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Gill Zella Martin 09 says...
2:23am Mon 4 Feb 13

Incidentally, my behaviour, my opinions and my belief in honesty and compassion, in fact anything I say or do be it right or wrong including anger and frustration has nothing to do with faith at all, my life changed dramatically and I am now financially very restricted and yet jealousy is something I have never suffered from, I will help anyone out but will very rarely accept favours myself, however, it is down to my personality, my character and the personal choices I make. If I had no faith it would not alter the way I behave or my opinions.
I believe there are as many good people out there without a religious faith as there are bad people with a religious faith.

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Jean1948 says...
8:20am Tue 5 Feb 13

Penrynner.
I don't think you can accuse every child of being the same who attends a Penryn or Falmouth school. My grandchildren attend these schools and certainly do not fit the description you described above.
My concern is that faith schools will be guided by the bible and not teach about real life, which I can assure you doesn't mean they will turn into druggies as you so eloquently put it!
I agree we all want children to grow up being polite and respectable, but spreading hate towards anything that the bible does not agree with is very wrong in this day and age.
There a small minority group of so called Christians out there who do not believe in any change, similar to your ancient quote you have posted above from the bible. Things have changed and moved on, there is more acceptance now which creates a better society to live in. God created everyone, they didn't decide to be gay, they were born that way.

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molesworth says...
1:17pm Tue 5 Feb 13

Tolerance of people that are not like you, such as gay people and drug addicts, is not a sign of a lack of morals Penrynner. It's a sign of love for your fellow man. It's a shame a lot of 'christians' can't be as tolerant and as loving as their main prophet was of prostitutes, leprosy sufferers etc.
Some of the most non-judgemental, trustworthy and gentle people I've met are atheists.

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Gill Zella Martin 09 says...
3:05pm Tue 5 Feb 13

I believe one of the biggest problems with preaching the bible to anyone particularly children, is that the bible can appear contradictory and has inclusions of events as witnessed by different people, this leaves room for debate because everyone is entitled to their own interpretation of what they read. For example Proverbs Chapter 31 verses 6 to 7 NRSV says "Give strong drink to one who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more"

That could well be interpreted in my opinion to mean it is ok to get drunk to forget all your problems. That then could give rise to debate is it right to suggest that people get drunk.

I feel it would be far better just to base a schools running on the teachings of love tolerance and compassion for others, understanding and acceptance of those different to oneself, alongside honesty and trustworthiness.

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Penrynner says...
11:50pm Tue 5 Feb 13

Jean. I certainly didn't infer your grandchildren were druggies or criminals. I didn't say ALL who go to those schools were, but I did say most, or should I have said, a very large proportion? A few years ago, my stepdaughter came home on her very first day at senior school, and said "Mum, do you know that there are only 3 of us in the class who haven't had sex yet?". They were all aged 11 years old. During that first month, she also came home, and told us that anyone who wanted a "teenth" should all meet behind the Grapes at 12.30 on Saturday, and bring along (I think it was) £2.50. After informing the police, and being told "We are not interested in kids, but are only after the dealers, (Who the heck do they think was selling it? A fairy?), it transpired that almost the whole class went down there, all clutching their £2.50, and all got their "teenth", without a single copper in sight.

I also beg to differ, in that I was certainly not spreading hate towards anything the bible doesn't agree with, but it was rather obvious that the majority of posts were ridiculing religion, faith, or even the very idea of giving the children an introduction into God, so that when they decide to choose for themselves, they have some information on the subject with which to make an informed decision.

Regarding your comments about believing in change, how things have changed, and moved on, and more acceptance has created a better society, ...... are you for real? A better society? The moral fabric of society has been destroyed over a period of many years, mainly by people's apathy allowing the decay and decadence to happen. In our own towns, here in Falmouth and Penryn, there are many people who are afraid to venture out at night. They won't take a stroll, they won't take the dog for a walk. They are afraid. And its no wonder, for the danger of being mugged, or simply having your head kicked in for some sicko's mindless pleasure. On their way back from the pubs and clubs, they vandallise cars and property every weekend. Snapping off mirrors and aerials, urinating in people's doorways, being sick over your hedge, fighting and screaming at all hours, and Heaven help any innocent passerby who happens to be near. It has happened to me, so don't tell me it doesn't happen. When they fill themselves with drink, all they want to do is find someone to give a good kicking. If they can't find anyone, they go home and kick the wife instead.

Molesworth, to show love for your fellow man can be achieved quite easily without committing sodomy or buggery. When the bible speaks of love for your fellow man, it doesn't imply you should be having s*xual relationships with them. I think you should read it again and check.

And Gill Zella Martin, yes, I am sure it is ok to give drink, to ease the pain, but that doesn't mean they should drink themselves senseless until they go and attack some innocent passerby, or rape someone, or mow them down by driving a car in that state, or murder, or anything else horrible that happens every week.

Yes, schools should teach love, tolerance, understanding, compassion, acceptance of those disabled or different, honesty and trustworthyness. But you don't find that in many schools today. More often than not, it is in the faith schools that you will find it, and they teach it by giving examples from the bible. Is that so wrong?

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Gill Zella Martin 09 says...
8:36am Wed 6 Feb 13

Penrynner, my reference to the Bible was just making the point that everyone could interpret anything in the Bible in a different way, including references to "an eye for an eye" one cannot in my opinion expect everyone to interpret things in the same context.
The Methodist religion practices non alcoholic communion, based on the idea that years ago people drank the wages away to the detriment of the provision of food for the family etc, some Methodists took the pledge not to consume alcohol, however, Jesus drank alcoholic wine therefore I see no reason not to drink alcohol in today's society if one is not drinking to the detriment of their family or anyone else etc. The Church of England does practice communion with alcohol.
I reiterate because everyone is entitled to interpret things in their own way I do not believe it is right to judge anyone's interpretation of anything in the Bible.

With regards to what molesworth said I obviously interpreted what he said differently to how you have, because I agree with him, he did not in my opinion make his comment in the way you appear to have interpreted it.

I conclude, If one wishes to teach their children from the Bible that is their personal choice, I however, managed to teach my two children respect for all others, alongside tolerance, compassion honesty and trustworthiness without reference to the Bible.

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Jean1948 says...
8:40am Wed 6 Feb 13

It is very obvious that you are speaking from 'your' personal experience and the not the majority I'm afraid and I am sorry to hear the problems you have experienced.
I have played a big part in the Penryn community for over 20 odd years the the statements you make differ from those I seem to get from my local community.
You must remember that the bible is very old and a lot of the content is very inappropriate for a modern world. For example the bible also states that a woman should never take the lead/speak first. I'm pleased to say that people with this view point are gradually dying out.
You are most certainly in the minority with your views. The vote for equality yesterday is a clear sign of change.
The 136 that voted against showed their true Tory roots. Old fuddy duddys!! I sincerely hope they resign and let the world be a more accepting place with less hate.
I will still attend Church, but whilst knowing that God would see that change was required.
Amen.

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Jean1948 says...
9:17am Wed 6 Feb 13

My above post was directed at penrynner, just to clarify.

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Lord Barrington Forbes-Smythe says...
9:46am Wed 6 Feb 13

I think the main reason people want to set up and/or send their children to so-called faith-based schools is that, apart from in many cases achieving better academic results, they believe their children will be treated more as individuals at these schools, given more individual attention, better protected and, in essence, cared about/loved. These schools are able to make a better attempt at doing the above because they work to a less rigid set of rules than ordinary state schools.

I myself went to a Catholic school and, for a brief period, sent my children to a primary school which many of the commenters might regard as being along similar lines to this new one (it was a 'Steiner school').

I am now firmly against such schools because they inevitably are or become very dogmatic, following strange rules for strange reasons (for instance, at my kids' school, they were only allowed to use certain colours in art and were told off if they tried to use others!). If parents raise issues, they tend to be ostracised by the 'community' as it closes ranks.

At the moment, there's the scandal going on about Stafford hospital and the endemic lack of compassion there: some people might kid themselves it's an isolated case, but the emphasis in most state institutions is always on targets and box-ticking, including most state schools.

Why can't more be done to improve state schools, so that parents don't feel the need to break away like this, to send their kids to schools run by institutions with beliefs they don't really share, just to try and get them a better all-round education? Our education system is unbelieveably flawed.

Ordinary schools need much more investment and much more freedom so that children can be given more individual, tailored attention by more inspirational, better-qualified staff: only then will general standards rise.

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BTaylor100 says...
11:00am Wed 6 Feb 13

Right, that's it. I'm moving to a proper atheist country where this kind of nonsense isn't tolerated. North Korea, here I come!

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