Reviving Faith in Education: How ‘Unite for Education’ is Awakening Schools and Churches Across Scotland

As debates rage over what children are taught in schools, a quiet revolution is stirring in Scotland. Have you ever wondered what would happen if Christian values were reintroduced into education not just on Sundays, but every single school day?

That’s exactly what Unite for Education is doing.

Led by Neil Deepnarayan, this movement is more than a campaign; it’s a call to awaken the Church, rebuild faith-led schools, and provide parents with real, practical alternatives to the current education system. With issues like identity ideology entering classrooms as early as nursery school, many Christian families are asking: Is there another way?

Unite for Education says: Yes, there is.

What is Unite for Education?

Unite for Education is a faith-driven initiative based in Scotland that exists to reintroduce Christ-centred education to children of all ages from nursery to secondary school.

This is not about creating Sunday schools or isolated scripture classes. It’s a holistic educational model built on academic excellence, spiritual development, and legal awareness giving parents, teachers, and churches the tools to reclaim what education was meant to be.

Founded in partnership with the Christian Legal Centre, Christian Concern, and the Scottish Family Party, the initiative has already:

• Organised two nationwide conferences in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
• Gathered hundreds of church leaders to discuss pastoral, leadership, and legal strategies.
• Sparked new Christian schools including one launching in Aberdeen and another outside Glasgow.
• Created resources for legal support, home-schooling alternatives, and opting out of state school content.

And they’re just getting started.

Let’s dive into a conversation with founder Neil Deepnarayan to hear what’s really happening and how parents and churches can get involved.

“We’re Building a Movement”: In Conversation with Unite for Education Founder, Neil Deepnarayan

Q: What inspired you to start Unite for Education?

I started Unite for Education to bring Christ-centred education back into Scotland. It came out of concerns about what’s happening in schools. I’m now working with Christian schools, home groups, and co-ops to build a united network. My heart is to awaken the Church and raise awareness because when you speak up, you’ll see so many people are worried about the children.

Q: When did this all begin and what impact have you seen so far?

I held my first conference in Edinburgh in 2022. Over 100 people came including many church leaders. We had pastoral, leadership, and legal talks. After seeing the impact, I felt God calling me to do more. I left my full-time paid job to fully focus on this. We officially launched in January this year and had another major conference in Glasgow. It’s been amazing since then churches are inviting me to speak, existing schools are growing, and new schools are now being birthed.

Q: You mentioned a new school opening soon. Can you share more about that?

Yes. Pastors and leaders are recognising the issue and deciding to start real Christian schools not Sunday schools. People often think Christian education is just scripture-based, but that’s not true. Kids learn everything: science, maths, literacy but without secular indoctrination. Independent schools are protected from certain state mandates, though they rely on donations and school fees.

Q: How early are you reaching children with Christian education?

Right now, we have primary schools and one secondary school. But in home education and co-op groups, we start from nursery. That’s important because children are being exposed to identity ideologies as early as four years old. So yes, we’re raising awareness and encouraging the Church to start nurseries too.

Q: What legal support exists for families or children facing discrimination in school?

There’s a lot of legal support. The Christian Legal Centre helps children, teachers, and families who stand up for their beliefs at no cost. All support is donor-funded. We’re working to bring awareness that help is available. We also encourage the Church to financially support Christian education so that families who can’t afford it still have access.

Q: Can parents opt their children out of questionable classes? And what about bullying or stigma?

Yes, parents still have that legal right. We provide legal documents and templates to help them opt their kids out. We’ve also put together resources to handle bullying and stigma that may follow. Our political partner, the Scottish Family Party, published a booklet called “Corrupting Young Minds”, which shows what’s really being taught and how to legally respond.

Q: Where can people find more information or get involved?

Visit our website: unitedforeducation.uk

We’re also on Instagram and Facebook. You can email us at info@unitedforeducation.uk. We post resources, videos from our talks, and a monthly newsletter with updates, new laws, and how we can respond as a community.

Are you Ready to Take a Stand?

If you’ve been moved by this conversation and want to know more about how to support Christian education in Scotland, or if you’re a parent, teacher, or church leader with questions we want to hear from you.

Send your thoughts, questions, or feedback to info@heartsonglive.co.uk

Let’s keep the conversation going.

Listen to the Full Discussion Here:

“Article written by Praise Afolabi; adapted from an interview held by Omosola Fiberesima at Refuel Festival 2024”