This is, simply, bad news! Very bad news! Religion should be taught in equal measures at school... it should be reflected upon at school, so that children aren't entirely blind/brain-washed by their families religious point-of-view. Give them an opportunity to learn and explore other religions/philosophies. But, I don't agree with 1-religion-only schools... it doesn't take a social policy expert to see that this type of education can only produce a negative and limited mindset. Which, nowadays, we don't need! These schools should be banned in all their forms.

Zoe, Liverpool, England, U.K

It is incorrect to assume that a secular school is coming from a neutral viewpoint. Secular schools have their own ethos and agenda, just in the same way that some faith schools do. Some secular schools do indoctrinate children with atheist or agnostic beliefs, such as the "all religions are worthless" mantra. By contrast some faith schools are very open-minded and tolerant, coming from the basis of their own faith but also seeking to understand others. Having an ethos of, say, Christianity, simply means teaching values of honesty, putting others before yourself and promoting peace; children in Christian schools are NOT told that they have to believe Christianity.

Tina, South Wales, UK

Community Cohesion
According to Ruth Kelly, migrants must learn English language to integrate. Learning English language is about as useful as learning Arabic, Urdu and other community languages. The British Establishment and society has systematically failed to understand the causes of migration, global terrorism and social and emotional, economic segregation. Muslims suffer different forms of discrimination which reduce their employment opportunities and affect their educational achievements. This can give rise to hopelessness and could undermine Muslims’ sense of belongingness. Islamophobia is a growing reality of racism around the world. The only way to stop it is by respecting the religious diversity. Communities are more divided than ever. The Government presses ahead with flawed policies and anti-terrorist legislation that created further resentment, alienation and criminalization. A dramatic surge of racist and religiously—motivated violence followed the 7/7, London and Glas

Iftikhar Ahmad, Forest Gate London, United Kingdom

How the gov dears to use public money to fund such schools? If someone wants to study about prophets, angels, dragons and witches it's their free will, but not for the money of others.

Michal, London,

I think most people are missing the point here. The reality is most parents want to send their children to faith schools because the standards of teaching is far higher. It may appear to be the case, but segregation and religious indoctrination is the last thing on their minds.

I can understand your concerns and suggest you speak to some of some of these parents, visit schools of this type and interact with them. I have no doubt you'll be surprised by your experiences.

Scalar, Manchester, UK

As usual everyone ignores the elephant in the room, which is that it is muslim schools that are the problem. Much easier all round to say " a plague on all your houses" and pretend that all faith schools are a bad influnece.

At present Muslim schools do not provide a rounded education. They exist soley to keep muslim children - and girls in particular - away from wider society. The focus is on the importance of headscarves, praying and demonising the rest of humanity.

The proof of the pudding will be when these schools turn out dozens of youngsters with a poor grasp of academic subjects because so many areas of styudy are deemed to be "unislamic". It is noteable that the majority are attended by girls, while the boys remain in mainstream schools.

Catholic schools, despite constnat criticism have a high level of academic achievement, as do other faith schools. This is unlikely to be replicated by muslim schools for the simple reason that this isn't what they are there for.

David Hughes, Edinburgh, UK

We should be moving to abolish faith schools, not promoting them. There ahead lies trouble.

Phill Barlow, Wirral, England

We maust be fair to Moslims. Abolish all faith schools. That will make them equal with Christians and all the others.

Peter Kaldor, Woking, U.K.

It is against all commonsense. Children should be given an overview of all religions, not brainwashed in the ways of one. Labour are (sadly as they promised so much in the beginning)a disgrace and sowing seeds of future strife.

Shaun, Blackpool, Lancs

Such superstitious belief systems should be removed from ALL education. In it's place should be a Humanist based teaching of morals / ideas such as compassion, empathy, respect etc. This should all be underpinned by an appreciation of Reason as the basis of true knowledge.

Norman, London,

No state funded, nor private faith schools should be allowed in Britain. All these sectarian schools do are brainwash children in out-dated beliefs which breed hatred and discrimination in our society. Religion should not be taught in state schools either, unless it forms part of history lessons. Churches, mosques etc should also lose their charitable status.

Les, Southport, England

It is relevant to the current debate to look at the origin of religious education in schools, as we now know it. When the horror stories of Nazi dictatorship and genocide reached the UK during WWII, it was decided by the wartime government that Christian charity and common decency were in a sense inseparable, and under the 1944 Education Act Christian religious instruction, and a daily act of worship in state schools, became law. Since the King, as head of state, was simultaneously Supreme Governor of the Church of England, this was not in any sense "unconstitutional".

It is being challenged now because the internet is creating a common, transatlantic, English-speaking community, in which the values of the American Constitution are being taken for granted, even though it has no legal validity in the UK. Put this problem alongside that of faith schools, and it looks as though the next coronation is going to cause HM Government a few more political problems than the last one in 1953.

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

Fatima-Grow up! & for God Sakes change your name.. You give great shame to such a pious name!
I take it your happy for christian scools to flurish.. but when it comes to any other religion running the scool it's looked down upon?
the government needs to take a stance and ensure the doors are open for all. They need to be fair to all and ensure everyone, no matter what the religion whether it be Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim or Sikh are all treated fairly.

nasir, leicester, UK

Islamic schools sound scary. The best solution is mixed schools, where everyone of all faiths sit together to know more of one another , instead of being ignorant on others where you may develop some kind of prejudice against those you dont know. These kinds of religious schools can only make matters worse for the future. If the government screwed in letting extremists do as they please, they willl make a bigger mistake with this one.

s. ahmed, Cairo,

In all of the comments that I've read on this issue, in this paper and The Guardian, 95% are against the development of more "faith" schools and I agree with them. That Ed Balls is trying (and failing) to argue that such schools promote "social cohesion" is laughable and risible. Does nobody remember the Troubles in Northern Ireland and all of the sectarian violence caused, in part, by separate education? We should not be allowing the use of taxpayer's money to fund any kind of separatist education. It will only store up problems for the future.

Mike Killen, Durham, UK

30 years ago: "let's build more mosques, so they can feel more at home, and their learned moderate imams will lead them into the path of becoming both good muslims and good members of British society.".

Now: "let's build more Islamic schools, so they can feel more comfortable and their learned moderate teachers will evenhandedly present fair points of view about the world and foster tolerance and inter-cultural harmony as these children grow to adulthood".

I guess we know how the first one turned out.

Do we want to find out how the second one will?

Marcella, Toronto, Canada

Faith schools split society between the ages of 5-18. The problems in Northern Ireland have been needlessly extended by this medieval approach to education. As someone who grew up in Belfast and now lives in London, it saddens me to think that the UK is taking this backward step.

It is also disappointing to note that the government is willing to sponsor such blatant discrimination. Imagine the outcry if a govt dept / public company only accepted applications from Muslims or Christians?

Matthew, London,

Religion has no place in the education system. We should strive for integration not segregration.

Jim, Southampton,

Isn't all this silly? Some dishonest person invented the term 'faith schools' to falsely associate very different things, and now the whole debate is skewed.

Let's talk honestly.

No-one cares if there are loads of church schools; CofE schools are no different in practical terms from any other. We don't really mind small numbers of RC, or Jewish schools -- they're proven harmless over the years.

But all of us care a lot about Moslem schools, since we all know that they may be training grounds for people who will try to kill us.

Interesting to learn that unnatural vice must not be 'stigmatised' -- that is, that any mention of it must be positive, and that the government intends to enforce this. I'm sure the Archbishop of Canterbury wishes that religion must not be 'stigmatised' in Britain!

Roger Pearse, Ipswich,

Religious dogma has no place in school education. Faith schools are simply a way for religious organisations to indoctrinate young people to ensure that they maintain a following.
If religions relied on converts they would have gone out of business centuries ago. In historical times, pre mass education, they ensured adherence to the faith through fear and intimidation, now they have to get them young when they are impressionable and before they have the opportunity to be able to decide for themselves.
Shame on the proponents of faith schools and pity the world that is so bound up with historical superstition.

Steven, Merthyr Tydfil,

Faith has no place in education and I find the whole concept abhorrent. I believe a much more secular and inclusive approach where agendas can be put aside is a much better way forward.

The problem is that faith schools are seen to be successful, and to some extent this is a difficult argument to counter. However, the solution must be to try and fix general education rather than continually running away from it.

Andy, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

I'm afraid faith school produces better results and are in great demand, face the facts.

zak, London, UK

Why should there be many Islamic schools that are funded by the majority Christians in Britain? It is obvious that Britain thinks she can influence the development of the next generation of Muslim-British by working on them while they are still young. Me thinks it´s a good long-term move, but requires extremely tight monitoring of these schools. The problem is, is it worth the money, time, and effort in proportion to their (community´s) contribution to the British society?

Kong Kek Kuat, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

why is faith in schools at all? why must children be given a faith before they fully understand what it means or to even decide whether or not it is what they beleive? Shuld'nt it be the child's choice to make up their own mind and not be forced into the beleif of their parents? keep all faith out of schools, allow kid's to mix at a young age, that way tolerance can be taught as well as the freedom to know about and aknowlegde the views of others. that and the person who talked about the cathoilc schools being top on the league tables, that has nothing to do with the religion of the school it's the education they get.

jennifer scally, glasgow, glasgow

Religion has no place in schools. I think hunderds of years of war and violence only proves that religion only divides people and causes suffering. It is only because people are allowed to indoctrinate children with religions that these myths continue to be perpetuated. At faith schools religions have a captive audience.
People are afraid that religion is now totally obsolete and actually detrimental to peace and cultural integration.

N. Bartle, Huddersfield, W. Yorks

Faith schools to promote cohesion and integration?

What a contradiction. Faith schools are more likely to promote the very opposite. It is promoting an "Our way is better than your way." and "We are right and you are wrong." attitude.

Faith and religion should be taught in the home and community, not the schools. There should be fewer faith schools, not more.

Filey, Scarborough, UK

I think that it is a step in a wrong way. It just will create more division within the society which in future could lead to more conflicts.

Eva , Harrogate,

“Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have a religion or whatever belief of his [her] choice.”

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18, UN

This also means the freedom not to have a religion. Children do not have a choice, and faith schools are for the benefit of the parents, not the children. Children would have benefitted more from English and Maths rather than being able to quote verses from the Koran which is not going to feed them in Europe. Muslim parents are ultimately destroying their children's chances in our society leaving the rest of us to pick up the bill when these kids grow up to be unemployable as their language and social skills are lagging behind. Faith schools will make integration even harder. We only accept muslim schools because we have to justify our own religious schools. Ban them all. Make kids equal and let the indoctrination take place outside schoolhours.

htp, Llandudno,

Where is our alleged secular society? Faith schools rampant, men of faith, unelected, sitting in judgment on our legislation, and a rash of "committed christians" in government, it is hardly any wonder that Atheists feel uneasy. Until we seperate the church from our state functions, education especially, we will never be free of the yoke of religious interference in our everyday lives. Faith schools may provide seemingly better results, but at what cost to our country?

Jennifer Hynes, Plymouth, England

All schools should be forbidden to teach a specific religion. All religions should be discussed and examined in some detail over the whole of a childs education, differences and commonality would then be understood. When the young adult starts to make its way in society he or she would then be able to make up their mind which, if any, religion they would like to follow. Imagine the current level of brain washing of our young if it were transferred to politics, totally unacceptable; so why is it accepted in religion? No wonder "suffer little children to come unto me" is in some way written into all religions.

mike gee, bournemouth, uk

Britain is not a Muslim country it is Christian country with The Queen as its head. If Muslim leaders in Britain want to control Muslim families then that's there business... but control families in Muslim countries.... not here. Why should the British taxpayer fund Muslim faith schools. I think Muslims have had plenty from us over the years thanks to politically correct lunatics and weak governments. Enough is enough.

Name Withheld, Manila, Philippines

France took religion out of schools decades ago; they were right to. The plan to increase sectarianism can only serve the radicals who wish to marginalise sections of society. The prospect of religious conflict on our streets will only be increased by active separation of children. Bigoted views will prosper, misunderstanding will flourish and when the next era of home-grown dissafected fundamentalists (of any religion) start demanding greater autonomy from the state, or greater rights to disassemble the society that attracted them here in the first place, we will look around and wonder how it happened.

David Laws, Brussels, Belgium

Schools should be devoted to eduction, not indoctrination
By definition, this rules out schools based on inculcating blind faith rather than encouraging the critical and open pursuit of knowledge.
The government should be planning the closure of existing faith schools, not encouraging the spread of sectarian infection.

E Thomson, London, England

Integration through Segregation?

This is absurd.

Chris Newell, Surrey,

I wonder if these schools teach their pupils that God created the Earth and that the planet is only 10,000 years old ? Or that the loving creator punishes non-believers with tuberculosis , blindness and boils (Leviticus 26:16) ?
If Britain wants to have it`s population truly intergrated it should stop allowing the brainwashing of it`s children .

John, Berlin, Germany

faith schools I beleive just increase intolerance and ignorance, to be honest we should keep faith out of schools and keep it at home. Schools should be a mix of everybody, that way there can be much more toleration of different faiths and views, sperating kids make that harder.

jennifer scally, glasgow, glasgow

Church of England Schools should be for Christians if Muslim Schools are for Muslims. it is preposterous how Christianity is sidelined in schools and Islam promoted.

The real burning anger and resentment comes from degradation of Christianity in schools not the prospect of State-funded Muslim or Jewish schools - and the peculiar state of schools in England whereby parents have to pay twice for education appropriate to their child or send them to State Collective Education Farms for social experimentation

CCTV, Halifax, England

Faith schools are a cancer eating at the hearts and minds of young peple. They teach division, hatred of unbelievers, uncrically accept dogma and superstition and add to the rifts, extremism, violence and lack of cohesion in our towns ad cities. I will always join my neighbours in bitterly opposing any attempt to set up do-called 'Faith' schools locally and would support any political party which includes that in its manifesto.

David Bennington, Ruislip, UK

Schools should be for EDUCATION, not the religious indoctrination of children.

If parents want to pass their superstitions on to their children, they should do it in their own time. Schools are for educating in facts and the ability to think, not myths and unquestioning dogma. Who can blame children if the two are mixed?

And I include all religions in this.

Jon, Winchester, UK

The Muslim community is already segregated enough, with muslim children having little or no contact with children of other religions. Muslim schools will further isolate these children which in future could make them suseptable to radicalisation. I believe that further integration is needed to make British society more cohesive.

David Morgan, Cardiff, Wales

I don't think that British politicians are trying to make England more like Ulster - it seems to me that they are trying to make it more like eastern Europe, Pakistan, India and the middle east.

tony, birmingham, uk

Come to something that in the 21st century, a Labour Government is promoting this superstitious nonsense.

Sue R, London, Britain

So faith schools are bad, and religon is brainwashing children, how do you explain church of england and roman catholic schools consistently comming top in the school league tables then???

Uche George, London, England

I think Britain is going the wrong way in wanting to establish faith schools. Go the way of France who forbade any religous sitns in their schools. Faith schools can only bring trouble, as the Muslims don't teach tolerance like the Cristian or Jewish schools, look what the Imams teach in the mosques.

Renate Baramy, Ramat Hasharon, Israel

In today's Britain religion, apart from an academic appreciation of the world's faiths, should be kept out of the classroom and children left to form their own opinions and way forward in life. Isolating children at such a young age divides society still further.

Barrie, Amsterdam, Netherlands

There's no smoke without fire!!!

Andrew Doyle, Manchester,

Sectarian schools should be abolished. The Northern Irish experience is terrible. Why are British politicians trying to make England more like Ulster?

Georges, London, UK

Yes indeed, we are scared of schools centred on the Koran, with no critical questions asked, irresponsible.
And the elephant in the room is 'religion': religions are very different. RCsm has a papal authority at its centre; Islam the Koran and Mohammed; the C of E is very open and non directive, aiming to serve the locality not just its own sect.
Plus the fact that these schools are wanted by religious leaders to tighten control over families otherwise happy to mix in with normal schools - imams and priests tell families they must use these schools. It is a mode of control, funded by taxpayers, illiberal madness.
NO MORE FAITH SCHOOLS FROM NOW. THEY WILL LEAD TO APARTHEID AND VIOLENCE - READ THE CANTLE REPORT.

Fatima, Homerton, UK