Faith schools racing ahead in primary league

The debate over quality in schools intensified today with figures showing a widening gulf in achievement.

An Evening Standard investigation highlights the growing success of faith schools compared with other state schools at primary level. It raises questions over why non-denominational schools are failing to match the success of their religious counterparts.

It is it bound to renew concerns voiced by many parents about the lack of choice for their children in state education.

The Government's former Chief Inspector of Schools, Chris Woodhead, said: "There is a widening gap in terms of performance between faith and other state schools. The best schools are getting better and the worst are getting worse."

He was speaking after it emerged that faith schools account for most of the top 10 primary schools in many London boroughs.

In Richmond, Lewisham and Islington, eight of the top 10 are faith schools, while the figure is 100 per cent for Barnet and Westminster.

Although many applaud the success of Anglican, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim schools in maintaining high standards, critics claim they are unfair because they can refuse to admit children of non-believers under selection procedures, while still receiving state funding like any other state school. The effect, say critics, is to leave non-believing parents with a more limited choice of schools for their children.

The figures emerged in the wake of comments by former speechwriter to Tony Blair, Andrew Neather. He said he and his partner were having to move house because they could not find a suitable, nondenominational primary school for their two young children in Lambeth.

Alan Carter, of the Campaign for State Education, said many parents like the Neathers were not being given a fair choice, adding: "In some areas, the state is funding a majority of faith schools and that doesn't reflect the population any more, particularly in London.

"Our members would rather see schools welcoming children of all faiths rather than bringing them up where difference is accentuated."

In London, faith schools are allowed to set their own admission policies while getting the same level of government funding as non-denominational state schools. The only real difference is that their governing bodies usually contribute about 10 per cent toward the cost of any capital work, such as new buildings.

Tom Peryer, director of education for the Diocese of London which oversees Anglican faith schools, said the issue was not that there were too many highachieving faith schools - but to ask why state schools were faring less well.

"Faith schools are popular with a significant proportion of parents and are generally oversubscribed," he said. "There are plenty of non-faith schools for people to go to, so the question parents have to ask is why they are less well performing."