Sir – Christians and non-Christians are unlikely to agree on the value of faith schools despite all the available evidence, evidence which is too often ignored in favour of personal beliefs.

However, your correspondent who seems to find no merit in faith schools may like to accept the following challenges: Check out the agreed syllabus for religious education in Oxfordshire schools, faith schools and mainstream schools (www.oxfordshire.gov.uk) where he will find that RE in the county’s schools covers Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism.

Christian indoctrination is a well-worn myth, especially in an environment where the vast majority of RE lessons are taught by teachers without firm allegiance to a specific faith. Contact me through The Oxford Times and I will happily take him on a tour of a local church school where I can guarantee he will find contented and purposeful children who are encouraged to form their own beliefs in an open and tolerant society; I will even treat him, if he so dares, to a school dinner, should one be available!

While people of different beliefs must agree to differ, they should at least do so in an informed way where understanding is encouraged and valued.

Bob Forster, Shipton-under-Wychwood