Multi-faith is best

MAY we make it quite clear that the Liberal Party does not support grammar schools as such.

However, the current debate about Blue Coat School is essentially about the prospect of a well-supported school ceasing to be secular and open to all faiths to having an admissions policy biased towards one denomination.

I am sure many Christians would have preferred this country had never gone down the road of schools divided by religious denomination.

We in the Liberal Party believe in parental choice and diversity in education.

The prospect of converting an "open school" to one showing preferential admissions on religious lines reduces equity and choice.

We should be encouraging more multi-denominational schools, not going backwards. We hope members of the other opposition party will reconsider their position on this count and enable the council to speak with one voice rather than opt out of this debate.

Cllr Steve Radford, Leader of the Liberal Party Group