SINGLE faith schools can have a positive effect on racial and cultural integration, according to headteachers in Bolton.

And the leaders of faith-based schools say they welcome pupils from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds in a bid to encourage further integration.

Tony Blair's Labour government has already recommended the introduction and encouragement of more single faith schools.

But the Government's views are at odds with the author of a report into the reasons behind this summer's race riots in northern towns including Oldham and Bradford.

In his findings, former Nottingham Council chief executive Ted Cantle recommends an open and realistic debate on the notion of Britishness.

And Home Secretary David Blunkett has suggested that immigrants should be required to learn English and take an oath of allegiance to the Queen.

Mr Cantle warns that to further encourage single faith schools could further encourage segregation. He suggests that religious schools should accept up to a quarter of their pupil numbers from other faiths or ethnic backgrounds.

Writing for the BEN today, the Rev Peter Shepherd, head-teacher of Canon Slade -- a Church of England secondary school --stresses the importance of an education based on faith.

And he even recommends the establishment of "voluntary-aided specialist schools" for communities of a particular faith.

Rev Shepherd says: "There is no intrinsic reason why society shouldn't be strengthened by such 'faith' schools. They may reflect the divisions of a broken society (like Northern Ireland), they may even help perpetuate them, but they certainly do not cause them. Other, far more complex factors do that."

And he adds: "But, in a healthy society, schools can celebrate diverse religions and other kinds of identity, none of which needs to fear or envy the others."

Another Bolton CE head -- Bob Atkinson of Farnworth's St James School -- hopes government plans for change will not act to the detriment of the work his school has already undertaken to promote cultural and racial integration.

Speaking to the BEN, Mr Atkinson said he hoped the "distinctive character" of the school's admission policy, which already accepts pupils of other faiths, is not altered.

He said: "Our admissions policy recognises and accepts other denominations and faiths.

"It reflects the community in which we live and the society our pupils will help shape.

"We need the mutual respect and understanding of other cultures and faiths, exemplified by this school."

In his findings, Mr Cantle says few Muslim children apply to CE schools, and Moslem schools "tend to be 100 per cent Asian".

Idrish Patel, headteacher of Bolton Muslim Girls' School, says if issues such as national identity and integration are tackled successfully at a national level, single faith school should not enter the argument.

"We have to be encouraging attitudes of tolerance and acceptance as a nation, not simply at a local level," said Mr Patel. "But people within local communities should be looking towards their schools for support and as examples of tolerance and acceptance.

"We all follow a national curriculum and, providing it does not interfere with the ethos of the individual schools, I see no reason such schools should not accept a number of children from different faiths. It can only help to improve the cultural diversity of the nation." SINGLE faith schools can have a positive effect on racial and cultural integration, according to headteachers in Bolton.

And the leaders of faith-based schools say they welcome pupils from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds in a bid to encourage further integration.

Tony Blair's Labour government has already recommended the introduction and encouragement of more single faith schools.

But the Government's views are at odds with the author of a report into the reasons behind this summer's race riots in northern towns including Oldham and Bradford.

In his findings, former Nottingham Council chief executive Ted Cantle recommends an open and realistic debate on the notion of Britishness.

And Home Secretary David Blunkett has suggested that immigrants should be required to learn English and take an oath of allegiance to the Queen.

Mr Cantle warns that to further encourage single faith schools could further encourage segregation. He suggests that religious schools should accept up to a quarter of their pupil numbers from other faiths or ethnic backgrounds.

Writing for the BEN today, the Rev Peter Shepherd, head-teacher of Canon Slade -- a Church of England secondary school --stresses the importance of an education based on faith.

And he even recommends the establishment of "voluntary-aided specialist schools" for communities of a particular faith.

Rev Shepherd says: "There is no intrinsic reason why society shouldn't be strengthened by such 'faith' schools. They may reflect the divisions of a broken society (like Northern Ireland), they may even help perpetuate them, but they certainly do not cause them. Other, far more complex factors do that."

And he adds: "But, in a healthy society, schools can celebrate diverse religions and other kinds of identity, none of which needs to fear or envy the others."

Another Bolton CE head -- Bob Atkinson of Farnworth's St James School -- hopes government plans for change will not act to the detriment of the work his school has already undertaken to promote cultural and racial integration.

Speaking to the BEN, Mr Atkinson said he hoped the "distinctive character" of the school's admission policy, which already accepts pupils of other faiths, is not altered.

He said: "Our admissions policy recognises and accepts other denominations and faiths.

"It reflects the community in which we live and the society our pupils will help shape.

"We need the mutual respect and understanding of other cultures and faiths, exemplified by this school."

In his findings, Mr Cantle says few Muslim children apply to CE schools, and Moslem schools "tend to be 100 per cent Asian".

Idrish Patel, headteacher of Bolton Muslim Girls' School, says if issues such as national identity and integration are tackled successfully at a national level, single faith school should not enter the argument.

"We have to be encouraging attitudes of tolerance and acceptance as a nation, not simply at a local level," said Mr Patel. "But people within local communities should be looking towards their schools for support and as examples of tolerance and acceptance.

"We all follow a national curriculum and, providing it does not interfere with the ethos of the individual schools, I see no reason such schools should not accept a number of children from different faiths. It can only help to improve the cultural diversity of the nation."