Muslim faith schools cause segregation, say teachers

Hell will freeze over before Muslim schools give children a liberal education, teachers were told today.

Faith schools threaten to cause religious segregation and must not be expanded, said Wesley Paxton from teachers' union Voice.

He suggested divisions like those seen in Northern Ireland between Protestant and Catholic communities could arise in England if more Islamic groups take over schools.

His remarks follow government moves to give religious groups a greater role in education through an expansion of academies and an offer of state funding for private Muslim schools.

In a speech at the union's annual conference in Daventry, Mr Paxton said: "More faith schools is probably going to mean more Islamic schools. There are already many schools with more than 50 per cent non-white enrolment.

"What benefits will there be by emphasising differences, by removing what non-Muslim influences these people will have, and reduce their chances of having a balanced upbringing?

"For girls in particular, can you imagine a UK madrassa being a hotbed of liberality, co-education, and having Cosmopolitan in the school library? I have a vivid imagination but I can't envisage that," he said. "In the words of President Nixon, 'Hell will freeze over first.' We are all people, we all breathe the same air, we need fewer distinctions, not more."

Mr Paxton proposed a motion at the conference that warned: "The opening of new faith schools could be divisive not inclusive." Delegates were due to vote on it today.

The call follows plans to double the number of semi-independent academies in London to 70 by 2011, opening the way for more faith groups to run schools.

Last year, ministers pledged to support Muslim parents who wanted access to faith-based education for their children.

The Government said there was a demand for some private Muslim schools to join the state education system.

But Children's Secretary Ed Balls later claimed there was no government plan to expand faith schools.

He has also criticised popular faith schools for using their extra powers over admissions policies unfairly.

Dozens were found to have broken admissions rules while some allegedly charged parents fees for what should have been a free state education.