I was therefore greatly encouraged to read Rabbi Jonathan Romain’s words (Register, October 1):

My hope and prayers are that both politicians and church leaders will increasingly campaign for schools where faith is cherished but not isolated.

HENRY RICHMOND
Oxford

From Mr Allan Hayes

Sir, The practical problem of stopping the slide to a divided society requires us to take on politically the privileged positions of the Church of England and the Roman Catholic church.

The matter is urgent: in Leicester, a city of just over 100 schools, we have in the past year alone seen three new C of E schools approved or built. An Islamic secondary school has just been approved. And we have ten RC schools that put being a baptised Catholic at the top of their admissions criteria.

ALLAN HAYES
Evington, Leicester

From Mr Ken Davies

Sir, I am a gentile whose children went to schools in Greater Manchester where half of the pupils were Jewish. The result? Faith is understood as part of everyone’s life, but is seen as irrelevant to school work and social life. The children integrated without even thinking about it.

KEN DAVIES
Mobberley, Cheshire

From Ms Penny Ryan

Sir, I am chair of a non-faith primary in Tooting — an area with a wide range of ethnic and religious groups. Religious education is seen as important for helping children to understand the similarities and differences of their faiths. Assemblies celebrate the festivals of all faiths as well as developing spiritual and moral sense.

We believe our children are well balanced, well behaved and insightful, and go on to cope well in secondary schools.

PENNY RYAN
Tooting, London

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