'SEGREGATION BY FAITH' QUESTIONED

Middle-class parents have a tendency to discover God shortly before sending their children to school, a former minister said today.

Conservative Crispin Blunt told the Commons he did not believe faith schools improved pupils' attainment, as he pressed ministers about segregation by faith.

Schools Minister David Laws replied that there was no desire to see schools which segregate society.

Speaking in education questions, Reigate MP Mr Blunt asked Mr Laws: "Even if one believes the argument that faith schools improved attainment, which I don't given the middle classes propensity to discover God shortly before their children's schooling, is segregation by faith a price worth paying by our society?"

Mr Laws replied: "We certainly don't want to see schools that seek to segregate the society that we have.