CHRISTIANITY should still dominate Religious Education in Buckinghamshire's schools - but councillors have stopped short of deciding by how much.

A challenge to the Buckinghamshire Syllabus for Religious Education (2006 to 2011) was defeated last week, meaning it will be used to guide teachers on how to teach different religions.

The controversial syllabus was called into question when the first draft recommended that only 40 per cent of lessons needed to be devoted to Christianity - compared to 60 per cent between other religions.

Buckinghamshire County Council was forced to revise the document following legal advice and declared that Christianity should be taught for more than 50 per cent of the time.

But it stopped short of giving an exact figure and faced a challenge from councillor David Meacock last Thursday, who said clearer guidelines should be given to teachers to ensure the subject clearly dominates.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Children's Services threw out his request for a call-in, adopting the syllabus for the next five years.

Cllr Meacock (Con, Amersham) said: "My argument is that if you just say more than 50 per cent' that gives you 49 possibilities.

"The committee felt that was okay but it is difficult for them because it is a legal situation.

"I was saying that legal advice showed that the law should be clear and everyone should know what they have to do to keep themselves on the right side of the law."

Cllr Meacock questioned the legality of the document after taking opinion from two barristers, including Paul Diamond who fought the case of Nadia Eweida, the British Airways check-in woman stopped from wearing a crucifix at work.

Cllr Meacock said they both agreed that the syllabus needed to be clear on the time allocated to Christianity to ensure it dominated. He previously called for the syllabus to follow the last UK Census, which would see Christianity taught 75 per cent of the time.

However two legal opinions sought by the county council said the document was above board in its revised form.

Cllr Marion Clayton, cabinet member for education, said not having precise figures gave more flexibility to teachers.

She said: "Teachers need a bit of flexibility because the way the syllabus is taught is designed to make children think and explore.

"You have to have that bit of flexibility to follow the line of questioning of the children in the classroom.

"School populations vary and the syllabus has to meet the needs of all of those children," she added.