An Anglican priest, who is the head teacher of a highly successful Church of England school, has accused the church of political correctness over its desire to admit pupils of no faith or other faiths to its schools.

Reverend Peter Shepherd, head of the Canon Slade comprehensive school in Bolton, said church schools were there to provide for the needs of children from Christian backgrounds.

We have Chinese Christians, Indian Christians, African-Caribbean and African Christians in our school

Reverend Peter Shepherd

Places are awarded at the heavily over-subscribed school on the basis of a family's attendance at church.

But, when the Education Bill becomes law, church schools will be required to "have regard" to the views of their dioceses over admissions procedures.

Rev Shepherd said he and his governing were opposed to the Church of England's aim to make its schools more inclusive.

"We take the view that education is never delivered in a values-vacuum - it's always in a beliefs context - and parents should have the choice.

"Some parents prefer their children to be educated in a Christian environment and we're here for that purpose," said Rev Shepherd.

'Not about race'

Rev Shepherd said his views were not about dismissing other faiths.

"I have far too much respect for the integrity of other religions - and recognise the differences - to think that their children should be educated in church schools.

"Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs should have their own schools to provide the diversity the government is talking about."

And he pointed out that Christianity was a multi-cultural, multi-race religion.

"We have Chinese Christians, Indian Christians, African-Caribbean and African Christians in our school."