ABSTRACT
The particular nature of faith-based schools seeking public funding has also come under scrutiny. What is most telling in the support for faith-based schools is the lack of confidence in community schools in terms of adequate cultural sensitivity or high academic attainment. The government states that new faith-based schools can only be created in response to parental demand, but, it is argued, demand can be artificially stimulated. To summarize, the New Labour government under Tony Blair has stated its commitment for community life, which it sees played out in faith-based schools and as part of active citizenship. Faith-based schools that are in receipt of state funding may also need to change. Whilst some may wish to reject what they consider to be the polluting influences of the outside world, a sense of estrangement from society does not in itself constitute a threat to that society.
