Humanists are combatting the power of Christian parents lobbying for a church-run secondary school by holding their own anti-faith education rally.
About 40 south west London humanists gathered at the YMCA Hawker Centre on Monday, three days after hearing both bids at the official meeting.
Norbiton councillor David Ryder-Mills, who is a governor of a Church of England primary school, said he was against the Christian bid because it was selective.
He said: “Parents have told me in this area they want a local school for local children run by a local university and the council, so I’m full square behind the Kingston Educational Trust bid.
“The last thing we want is another selective school in this area. The only schools in Kingston town are selective and we don’t want any form of selection.
“The support is going in in enourmous quantity from the other side.”
Objections to faith schools included the exclusion of students by religion, and their freedom to teach their own religious education syllabus, but one speaker said non-Christians told him they liked church school's reputation for morals and good behaviour.
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