Member

My last point is that it is possible to be at school and have an education whereby you have ultra-Orthodox Jewish instruction and the broad and balanced curriculum as well. There are schools that do that. This amendment is asking us to exclude the broad and balanced education and have only the religious instruction. I cannot see why this group of people should be excluded from a Bill the main purpose of which is to safeguard children. I accept that the amendment says that safeguarding would take place, but we must, as far as we can, make sure that our children have the sameness of that broad and balanced education. It is not about following the national curriculum and slavishly doing what other schools do. It is about making available to them a broad range of learning, facts and experiences so that, when they grow up, they have not only the faith—which for some people underpins their morality, vision and purpose in life—but that broad and balanced education which makes them an even more fulfilling member of the community and able to contribute.