A Bradford trade union leader has called on the Government to drop its plans to increase the numbers of faith schools.

Syd Matthews, joint Bradford secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), was speaking after the union voted to oppose proposals to allow religions other than Christian churches and Judaism to open state-funded schools.

It followed a heated debate at the union's annual conference in Cardiff during which a motion calling for a recognition of the "positive contribution" faith schools made to children's education was defeated.

Afterwards Mr Matthew, who had spoken in favour of opposing plans for more faith schools, warned that dividing youngsters along religious grounds could only have a damaging effect on the future of the city.

He said: "I think there is a real danger that we could end up with a number of schools serving the Islamic faith rather than providing an education for youngsters of an Islamic background. We need to differentiate between church schools and faith schools. If a school is prepared to take any child regardless of their beliefs then that it fine. Pupils at Catholic schools have an access to certain elements of that church and this is something that is historic in this country. Whether this should be extended beyond these groups as a way of promulgating religion is something else.

"I don't think the people of Bradford are prepared to pay to create Islamic schools and I don't think we want people taking themselves away from the mainstream."

But Sher Azam, president of the Bradford Council for Mosques, described Mr Matthew's views as nave. He said: "There has been discrimination against Muslim schools which has not been helpful to the citizens of Bradford. For some time Jewish and Christian groups have received funding to run schools but not Muslims."

Councillor Elaine Byrom, chairman of Bradford Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Education, said she was also in favour of more state-funded faith schools.

She said: "Some of the first schools in Bradford were faith schools."

A Department for Education and Skills spokesman said: "If there is clear local support and the proposal is accepted by the local School Organisation Committee for a new faith school, we would welcome it."

e-mail: gareth.tidman@bradford.newsquest.co.uk