A CHURCH minister has launched a campaign to end religious discrimination in enrolling children into the borough’s schools — saying the town is divided because of its schools.

Stephen Lingwood, minister at Bank Street Unitarian Chapel, is chairman of Bolton Fair Schools Admission which is calling for all state-funded schools in the town to be open to all children regardless of their religion or belief.

The campaign was launched to coincide with the closing date for secondary school admissions in Bolton.

Mr Lingwood said: “We are a diverse group of people, both religious and non-religious who are united in wanting a cohesive society of one Bolton family.

"We believe discrimination based on a child’s, or their parents’, religion is wrong.

“ It has a negative effect on community cohesion in the town and it puts some parents in a very difficult position.

“Why are we against school admissions based on religion? Firstly it is simply wrong and unfair.

"All our taxes go to support state schools and yet some of them are only open to certain sections of society. This would be illegal in many other countries. We wouldn’t accept NHS hospitals for people of only one religion, so why do we accept it in schools?

“Secondly, it creates segregation and has a negative effect on community cohesion.

"We are a town divided both socially and religiously because of our schools. I want a town where Christian, Muslim, atheist and Hindu children work together, eat their lunch together, play together, and make friends with each other. That is not what our current school system is providing."

Mr Lingwood said that the campaign had started as a result of concerns through informal conversations about admissions to faith schools, such as those from multi-faith families who don't fit in to the system.

He said: "It encourages dishonesty, a vice condemned by all religions and all ethical people.

"Many parents ‘play the system’ and attend a place of worship only to get their children into what they believe are the ‘best’ schools.

“Those parents who are honest and conscientious enough to refuse to do this are punished.”

Mr Lingwood said that attending church was not necessarily a measure of faith, with some people deciding to hold prayer sessions with other people in their house.

Cllr Kevin McKeon, Bolton Council’s Cabinet member for Schools, said: “I recognise the concern of the group to safeguard social cohesion.

"The issues they raise are being debated nationally particularly by secular organisations.

"The local authority operates an admissions policy in line with government guidelines.

"This does give religious schools the capacity to admit on religious criteria."

The campaign wants to hear from parents who have experienced difficulties and discrimination based on religion in school admissions in Bolton.

Those affected can email boltonfsa@gmail.com or go to boltonfsa.org.uk.