A BASINGSTOKE teenager will chair a debate between a politician, educators and a priest on whether it is appropriate for faith schools to be funded by the Government.

Queen Mary’s College (QMC) student Saul Irwin will be making sure both sides of the debate surrounding the steady introduction of state-funded faith schools are given an equal opportunity to argue their case.

The debate, which is being held at QMC on September 16, has been organised by the Basingstoke Humanist Group, and will spark a discussion on the statement “state schools should not be faith schools.”

The 17-year-old, who is studying maths, history and politics at QMC and has aspirations of studying at Oxford University, said: “I am looking forward to keeping some of the big beasts in the National Faith Schools debate in line.”

Speaking in support of the motion will be Andrew Copson, chief executive officer of the British Humanist Association (BHA), and Marilyn Mason, former BHA trustee with responsibility for education.

On the other side of the debate will be Basingstoke MP Maria Miller, who is a committed Christian, and a strong supporter of faith schools, and Father Mark Hogan, who has been the parish priest of St Joseph’s parish since 2007.

The Basingstoke Humanists Group aims to bring this issue forward as it has different views on religious influence in society and disagrees with state-funded faith schools.

Group secretary David Brittian said: “The Basingstoke Humanists very much look forward to welcoming all the speakers – and the audience.

“Humanists support free choice and they are concerned that this is denied to young people who are sent to a faith school.

“Schools should be places of learning, not indoctrination, and children should be exposed – as equally as possible – to as wide a range of faiths as possible.”

The debate is free to attend – email basingstoke@humanistgroups.org.uk or visit basingstoke.humanist.org.uk.