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GuardianFree schools will not teach creationism, says Department for Education
Government spokesman says the education secretary is 'crystal clear' that teaching creationism is at odds with scientific fact
Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent guardian.co.uk,
Monday 21 March 2011 18.11 GMT
The Department for Education has said Michael Gove is "crystal clear that teaching creationism is at odds with scientific fact" after a warning that the government's new free schools could be exploited by fundamentalist churches looking to promote a literal interpretation of the Bible.
The remarks follow a letter to the education secretary from the British Centre for Science Education (BCSE) suggesting that creationists planned to use government legislation on free schools to mount a "concerted attack" on science education.
Free schools can be set up by charities, universities, businesses, educational groups, teachers and groups of parents. They will have more freedom over the contents of their curriculum, leading to fears that science teaching in the schools may not be as rigorous. Teachers working at free schools will also not need to have formal teaching qualifications.
The BCSE, which describes itself as the leading anti-creationist organisation in Europe, wrote to Gove to express its "extreme concern" at applications from groups such as the Everyday Champions Church and the Christian Schools Trust to run free schools.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/mar/21/free-schools-creationism-department-education