I THINK that we already have too much religious involvement in education, and getting the God Squad to run more schools in Southampton is a serious retrograde educational decision by our city council.

Schooling should be secular, based on good educational principles, and any emphasis on any one religion is simply divisive and unhelpful, particularly in a multi-cultural city like Southampton.

Having new sixth forms in the new schools undermines our very good sixth form colleges in the area.

It is also not practical to give excellent teaching at sixth form level with relatively few pupils in each school (and hence few options able to be offered).

It is much better to have dedicated sixth form colleges that give a much better service at this level.

In addition children at 16 are more than ready to go on and experience a more adult environment of a sixth form college, an excellent preparation for university and independent life.

All in all this looks like it is another potentially disastrous education decision in Southampton. Unfortunately, those who value a good secular education for our children and who live in north-wst Southampton will have to continue sending our children to the Romsey schools.

JOHN SPOTTISWOODE, Shirley, Southampton.