Wow --this is a minefield--"Educational segregation"--However lets try to add to the discusion.
I am a product of segregated education--I went to a CATHOLIC primary school and for a short time secondary school. I am happy with my religious education but I remember the downside including the abuse thrown both ways between children of the local Church of England and our Catholic.Each thinkung they were in some way superior.I agree with Nick Johnson this is not the way for the future.However there is a case for seperate schools to facilitate the teaching of language and cultural values to the younger children of new immigrants --these should be funded and given incentives to prepare these future citizens for this society. This prepation should begin as early as possible with a view to moving our next generation into a unified system.
Funding should be directed toward integration at all age groups within our society. Some action now instead of years of anticepating the problem.

ROB TONER, Wolverhampton, UK

As long as residential segregation exists in many large cities, segregation in schools is bound to contiue. And thus a barrier to community cohesion.
Government's current policy of encouraging the setting up of faith schools is also likely to be a further contributory factor in enhancing religious or ethnic segregation that currently exists.
Only a kind of freshly thought through bussing policy of the 1970s (that was declared racially discriminatory by the CRE) is a practical option.
Financial incentives for white schools in outer districts that will attract more pupils from ethnic minorities is likely to seriously adversely affect the innercity schools.
Educational segregation is a serious issue that requires a carefully thought out policy if any long term positive results are to be achieved.

Ramindar Singh, Pudsey, UK

Contrary to what this article states, research done in this field shows clearly that, on average, children from Asian and Oriental backgrouds do BETTER than their white counterparts at school in terms of academic achievements, whilst Blacks, on average, do worse.

Facts before fiction please

John Dixon, London, UK

Er...sorry, Mr Willetts and the Tories, like Labour, are backing lots more religious schools paid for by the state, so we will have deepening and cemented segregation, apartheid schools, notably for Asians attending Islamic schools - which Imams will tell their people to do.
It's an aparttheid future folks. An interesting issue for 'human rights': rights of groups override the wider good of society for a coherent common good. Thanks to our liberal elite once again, inverting common sense and getting lots of legal fees in doing all this damage.

Hildebrand, Oxford, UK

Isn't this segregation in schools just a reflection of what happens in the rest of society? I'm finding it extremely difficult to think of anywhere where integrating people of different (and long established) cultures, religions, backgrounds etc has actually worked well. The politically correct lobby may want to ask themselves exactly how PC is it to dilute someone's identity and culture?

Rod Munch, Northampton, UK

It is a mistake to have ethnic or faith schools.
Just take a look at Northern Ireland and we seem to be repeating the system that has caused much social divisions there.

Frank, Swindon, Wiltshire

Where we live the best secondary school is a Church of England school. I am very keen about the education of my children but the school operates a "parents are church-goers" system in their decisions whether to accept children as their new students or not. I am a liberal muslim so I do not go to church, and hence even if I want my child to go to this school for his education he cannot because I am not a "church-goer" then in this case of course there is going to be all-white schools and all the issues outlined above. The fact that I dont want to be blackmailed about my religion is an important for me but yet I am willing to send my child to cooperate and integrate with others and to learn to live in harmony but I do not feel I am given much chances unfortunately!

Guldal, Nr Manchester,