Hi Breadandbutter, I'm afraid I'm not wrong about that. It appears you are going from personal experience, where-as I am going from research carried out on the subject in the form of multiple studies in different areas with various samples and samplings. With your personal experience that may well be the case and that's great, but across the board I'm afraid it's a different story.
It's not only in Central London, not only do we have lots of data contrary to this but I hail from a small town called Ringwood in the New Forest, neighbouring a place called Verwood which is just one example of a very religious area that causes issues with schooling. A friend of mine has a child that attends a school there (there is no other school near by) and he worries that his son is seen as the "weird kid" because he leaves the classroom to sit outside on his own during the daily worship. He also doesn't get on so well with a couple of teachers since he's read "The Magic of Reality" which has led him to question some of what they assert, which they evidently disapprove of.
With regards to the curriculum and stats, my point is that there are credits given for the non-secular side of the curriculum which of course the pupils do well in, but there is by no means any evidence that faith schools per se produce children that go on to become great academics. I think it's also important to remember that faith schools vary, they're not all the same and some are more open to diversity and free thinking than others, however... the danger remains that there are still faith schools which are to some extent opposed to free thinking, the new "Free Schools" created and run by creationist organisations for example.
@Schoolworries, we are campaigning for fairness and equality. Some parents don't have the choice. Whether the be financial, geographical, or culture/religion based. Some faith schools also discriminate with regards to employment of teachers, and to make matters worse some will now be accepting teachers who are not qualified to teach just because they're of faith. We are also campaigning against the homophobia, sexism, and racism which is far more common in faith schools than secular schools, and against the segregation it causes, which leads to tribalism and more culture and race based issues later on in life. We do not advocate humanist schools. Just fair and open schools for all which allow children to learn about all faiths and subjects that are good for their futures.
@Solidgoldbrass, great to hear you're a member. Yes that's often the case, where such schools are not selective and more open to all, the averages do get pulled down. It is a worry to some extent that some children may not get the same amount of attention due to large class sizes and children whose first language is not English needing more of the teachers time, but that's all the more reason why public funds should not be spent on faith schools which are selective, and instead used for all children to have the same chances in life.
With regards to the comments about targeting the wealthy... whilst we don't agree with the concept of faith schools we are only campaigning against state funded faith schools. If the wealthy want to send their children to privately funded faith schools (or schools paid for by the church itself) then fine, but why should everyone else's taxes be paying for schools that only allow certain children, often only of certain faiths, and sometimes of certain classes in. Schools paid for by all, should be open to all.