I lived in Camden (London) for most of my life and have come to the conclusion that there are good 'faith' schools and bad 'faith' schools, the same as state schools. I went to a state all girls school ( Parliament Hill School ), which at the time enjoyed the reputation of being the best girls school in London.

Across the road there was a convent school, La Sainte Union. This school did not have a particularly good rep. academicly and the majority of girls left at 16. ( Whether to go to sixth form collages or what, I don't know ). The standard of disciplin in La Sainte Union was very high ( we're talking Nuns here), but that only held true whilst the girls were in school. Come home time the air would turn blue 50 yards from the gate ( out of range of the nuns ), they were always in fights, continuously barred from the local shops and generally made you wonder.

On the other hand there was the Jewish Free School down the road. They enjoyed the reputation of being one of the best schools in London ( out of state and independant schools ). They had good academic records, did well in sports, music and technologies. The pupils, whenever we encountered them, were ok ( well there are always a few, but on the whole....).

The difference? I think it had far more to with the parents attitudes towards the school and their children, than whether they were religious or non-religious schools. As it has been stated above, if parents are willing to move house, convert/lie about converting to a religion, find the money to pay for equipment, help in fund raising, promise time to help out at the school, drive miles to deliver kids to the schools, remortgage the house to pay for fees, then they will help make a school that much better. Their children cannot help but be influenced by this.

Personally, I think all children should learn about as many religions as possible, in the context of being an academic subject. I don't think schools should be used as an arena for possible converts for any one.

In our school, religous education was compulsary for the first three years. I don't see anything wrong in that, so long as it is understood that all major religions are to be covered.

TTFN M'Lady P.