To address another part of your discussion starter Whitewave, I am strongly against schools being able to have an admission policy of accepting pupils of one particular religion. It is only by being educated together, spending time together, that children will mix with others not of their faith , and many brave pioneers have proved the benefits of this in Northern Ireland. With few exceptions, the separation of children into faith schools is detrimental, particularly for girls. I am sure someone will come along to claim otherwise, but neither the Catholic church, Orthodox Jewish schools, Islamic schools are renowned for their advancement of female education. ALL children should attend non religious schools, whether state or independent, and any religious education deemed necessary by the family should be attended out of school hours. At my senior school, in a very Jewish area, the boys ( and some girls) attended Shul on Saturday mornings to prepare for their Barmitzvah, and I think this is how it should be, no parents should be able to deprive their child of the opportunity of a good education on religious grounds.