A humanist campaign group has contributed to a documentary on faith schools due to be screened on Wednesday.

The British Humanist Association (BHA) vice president Professor Richard Dawkins presents the documentary, entitled Faith School Menace?, and the charity’s chief executive Andrew Copson is among a number of experts interviewed.

In the film, Professor Dawkins argues that the Government must stop funding new faith schools and urges society to respect a child’s right to freedom of belief.

The screening of the documentary comes as the BHA launches a major new fundraising campaign to support its work against state-funded faith schools.

Mr Copson said: “Throughout the BHA’s many years of campaigning on this issue, parents, teachers and pupils themselves have consistently opposed ‘faith’ schools.

“The reasons are clear – they are divisive, discriminatory and unable to fully recognise the rights of their pupils.

“Unfortunately, with the coalition Government’s massive deregulation of education, the situation is only going to get worse.

“The documentary comes at an opportune time for the BHA, as this week we launch a major new fundraising drive to ensure we can continue to employ our dedicated faith schools campaigner for another year.

“We hope the documentary will act as an incentive for all those concerned about the power and influence of religious groups in our schools to support our work.

“We must act now to ensure a fairer, more inclusive education for our children in the future.”

As well as an interview with Mr Copson, the film features interviews with former education secretary Charles Clarke; the head of the Church of England Education Service, Reverend Janina Ainsworth; and the chair of the Association of Muslim Schools, Dr Mohammed Mukadam.

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‘Faith Schools Meance? is on More4 tonight at 9pm or can be watched afterward on 4oD.

The British Humanist Association campaigns against ‘faith’ schools and their various privileges in teaching, employment and admissions. They are raising money to fund and resource their ‘Faith’ Schools officer for another year of dedicated campaigning on religion and schools. See Faith Schools: Just Say No.