Sir, In proposing that faith schools be required to accept at least 25 per cent of pupils from outside their faith, Lord Baker of Dorking refers to the conflict in Northern Ireland (report, Oct 18). However, Northern Ireland is vastly different from England and Wales. The religious character of Northern Irish schools is more an effect than the cause of a society deeply divided on a whole range of dimensions. Despite these divisions, schools there have been important influences in reducing the severity of the conflict precisely because of their religious, ethical and moral values.

A better comparator for England and Wales is the Netherlands, whose society is, in many respects, very similar to Britain. In the Netherlands, about 70 per cent of schools have a religious character and there is no evidence that this has caused social division. That country’s highly regarded tolerance is a result of the compromise agreed early last century by the leaders of the main pillars of society: Protestants, Catholics, liberals and socialists, mainly over who controlled the educational system.

It is true that the famed Dutch tolerance is today under strain because of the rise of militant Islam in that country and a certain kind of school that might be a breeding ground for radical Islamists. But this should not be used as the pretext for an attack on religious schools in general when these schools, particularly Catholic ones, have been important providers of very high quality education that is more socially inclusive than the state sector.

JOHN LOUGHLIN
Professor of Politics,
Cardiff University

Sir, In his spirited attack on Catholic schools (Comment, Oct 28), Matthew Parris refers to the “taxpayers’ money” that “we” give “them”. Does he think Catholics don’t pay taxes?

TOM McINTYRE
Frome, Somerset

Sir, There are many differences between Catholic and Church of England schools. As a former Ofsted inspector, I have visited dozens of schools and noticed that in Catholic ones there are usually statues and crucifixes, Mass is regularly celebrated, pupils are prepared in school for their first communion and the local priest is an integral part of the life of the school. CofE schools are often very similar to secular schools. Assemblies tend to emphasise moral rather than religious themes and religious education lessons cover all leading faiths. Often the church school is the only one in the district, and hence the CofE rightly has to reflect a much wider range of beliefs.

I believe that any integration in education can only happen when religion and state education are separated completely.

KENNETH PARSONS
Bristol

Sir, I attended Church of England and secular schools and noticed very little difference between the way subjects were taught. However, the CofE schools had greater expectations of me and an ethos of civility and service to others.

The secular obsession that all values are relative has led to a generation of thuggish parents and their sociopathic offspring.

BARRY WADESON
Milton Keynes

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