Mr Cameron said he was protective of his daughter

The Conservative leader told BBC Radio 4's You and Yours that he wanted all parents to "have a choice" on the issue of education.

A smaller, state-funded church school would offer more "familiarity" for his daughter Nancy, he explained.

Mr Cameron's son Ivan attends a state special needs school.

'Over-precious'

Asked whether Nancy would go to a "neighbourhood" state school, Mr Cameron said: "I'm quite a fan of faith schools and we're looking at a church school we're very keen on, but we'll have to see what places are available."

He added: "I do worry that some of the primary schools - maybe I'm being over-precious and protective of my daughter - but you sort of feel that your small child is going to go into this enormous state primary school and may get a bit lost."

Mr Cameron indicated that the school they were considering in central London followed his Church of England faith.

He said: "I want parents to have a choice. In London, you have a choice."

Tony Blair was heavily criticised in 1995 while opposition leader for sending eldest son Euan to the grant-maintained Catholic London Oratory school in Fulham, south west London.