THE headteacher of an independent Catholic school defended faith schools and hit out at critics trying "to remove God from our lives".

Philip Mahon, head at Oakhill College, Whalley, said people who attacked faith schools for being divisive" were being "unhelpful".

Mr Mahon, speaking at the school's 25th prizegiving night at Mytton Fold Country Hotel, reiterated the importance of religion in education.

He praised GSCE results of 81.8 per cent pass rate and stressed the importance of retaining religion during the school day.

Mr Mahon said: "Leading a school of a religious character has many challenges, particularly a school such as Oakhill, which is a Catholic school welcoming children of different faiths.

"There are many in positions of influence who believe schools with religious character or 'faith schools' are divisive. It is thought that they are unhelpful in today's society and question whether they should exist.

"Once again they want to remove prayers from our schools and they want to remove God from our lives.

"We must refuse to bow to such thoughts and encourage pupils to be the next custodians of our faith."

He also looked back on a year that saw the school open its new preparatory school, to be known as Paulinus House.