Carey opposed to faith schools of only one religion

The Archbishop of Canterbury said yesterday that he was opposed to the idea of all-Christian schools.

In his first public statement on the issue since the Government committed itself to increasing the number of faith-based schools, Dr George Carey said that all Church of England schools should include pupils from other religions and those without faiths – even if this meant turning Christian children away.

His remarks, in The Times Educational Supplement, will reassure ministers over the Church's desire to make the 100 new C of E secondary schools that it is planning inclusive.

However, he stops short of conceding the demand, made in an amendment to legislation being planned by the Government, to set a quota for the number of non-Christian children to be admitted.

In the article, the Archbishop, who announced his retirement earlier this week, said some C of E secondary schools were turning away as many as six pupils for every one admitted. "Even so, they should include some children of other faiths, and of no particular faith, as well as the children of Christian families," he added. "That will be easier with the hundred additional secondary schools we hope to develop and acquire.

"The Church of England is clear that our schools should be distinctively Christian in ethos and inclusive in approach. Almost all Church of England schools already include pupils of other denominations and faiths and of no particular religious faith. They nurture Christian children in their faith, encourage those of other faiths and challenge those of no faith."

However, concerns have been expressed in some areas – notably Oldham, the scene of race riots last summer – that C of E schools have barred non-Christian children. Phil Willis, the Liberal Democrat education spokesman, singled out one school in the town, The Blue Coat, which has only a few non-white pupils but serves an area where most families are from ethnic minorities.

Dr Carey also backed the demands from other religious groups, such as Muslims, for state-aided faith schools, saying: "It is a matter of justice and a sign of the openness of British society that other faiths, too, should have schools in the maintained sector."

Legislation allowing religious groups – and private companies – to put in bids to run new secondary schools is currently going through Parliament. An amendment supported by Liberal Democrats and some backbench Labour MPs seeks to ensure at least 10 per cent of the pupils in religious schools are from outside the faith.

Estelle Morris, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, has also stressed that all new church-run state schools should accept pupils who follow other faiths or none at all. Guidance is to be sent out to school organisation committees, which decide on new school proposals, urging them to turn down applications from religious groups who refuse to open their doors.