@ Seeker
"I don't want school to tell children that God does not exist - I want school to explain that some people believe in him and some people don't."
That's fine. All schools, even church schools (well, Anglican anyway) do this already Seeker. I can't speak for ALL faith schools on this, as my experience doesn't extend that far.
"But any child who goes to a State school in this country is taught with an undercurrent of Christianity being an objective truth".
And (if that were true, which it isn't)that might be because there is a 1,200 year old tradition of Christianity in this country. Our laws (like it or not) are built on it, as are our education and healthcare systems. Our history is replete with it. When I lived in Turkey, all the kids were taught in RE was Islam and I didn't bat an eyelid, because that is a big part of their heritage.
The truth of the matter here is that kids get an education on ALL the major faiths.
I totally believe kids should learn about all faiths (even in my imaginary faith school that I'm arguing for here). However, as you say elsewhere, there's learning about other faiths and participating in them. The latter is so wrong, but very common sadly, usually because the RE teacher has no strong personal faith themselves and regards faith in anthropological terms only. I'm dead against kids being made to pray/sing/worship to any god other than their own. This happens across all faiths, not just Christian. I've seen kids dancing and singing to religious Hindu songs too, without knowing what they are singing or who the worship inherant in the dance is directed towards. I've known kids be made to bow down to the Sikh Holy book on school trips to a temple and I've heard teachers insist that when kids say Mohammed's name, they follow it with Peace Be Upon Him. To the person with no faith, this seems harmless, allowing kids to experience other faiths. But to me it seems wrong. Faith is a serious business. People are passionate about their faith and to encourage kids to participate in other faiths this way, belittles both the faith itself and the child's own faith. As a Christian, if I were to do any of the above, I would be going against my faith at many levels. It's the same for kids of other faiths also. What Muslim or Jew would feel comfortable talking about Jesus as "Christ", for example? Or singing Christmas Carols? There's a very fine line between learning about and participating in and it's almost impossible not to cross it at times, but it's a line I believe in and think we should strive NOT to cross.
"People who want their children taught that God exists and made the world should do so at their own expense or in their own time. As should Atheists. Or Hindus. Or Muslims. Or for that matter, Marxists".
Well as a taxpayer, I disagree and want the option to send my kids to a school that supports our faith. I also think there should be non-faith based schools for people who don't want that, perhaps in the majority to reflect our society.
There's room for everyone, surely? I think faith schools should NOT be catchment based and that people who don't want this sort of education should not be forced to send their kids to a faith school purely on the basis that it's their local school. That's not right either.