A new documentary by world-renowned atheist Richard Dawkins calls time on the growth of state-funded religious schools in Britain. Andrew Copson, vice president of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and chief executive officer of the British Humanist Association (BHA), is among a number of experts interviewed for ‘Faith School Menace?’. The show will premiere this Wednesday, 18 August, at 9pm on the UK channel More4.

The film features interviews with child psychologists, politicians and key players in the ‘faith’ schools debate as well as insights from parents and pupils. It is passionately narrated by Professor Dawkins, vice president of the British Humanist Association and an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society.  Dawkins draws on his own experience as a father, arguing that the government must stop funding new ‘faith’ schools and urging society to respect a child's right to freedom of belief.

Andrew Copson says that, “Throughout the BHA’s many years of campaigning on this issue, parents, teachers and pupils themselves have consistently opposed ‘faith’ schools. The reasons are clear–they are divisive, discriminatory and unable to fully recognise the rights of their pupils. Unfortunately, with the coalition government’s massive deregulation of education, the situation is only going to get worse.”

Around 7,000 government-funded schools in Britain—one in three—now has a religious affiliation. The government’s new initiative for “Free Schools” may increase this number.

“The documentary comes at an opportune time for the BHA as this week we launch a major new fundraising drive to ensure we can continue to employ our dedicated ‘faith’ schools campaigner for another year,” says Copson. “We hope the documentary will act as an incentive for all those concerned about the power and influence of religious groups in our schools to support our work. We must act now to ensure a fairer, more inclusive education for our children in the future.”