The academies legislation will allow parents, teachers and charities to set up their own Swedish-style "free schools".

Gove revealed that Richard Dawkins, an academic and prominent atheist, is interested in setting up an atheist free school. Critics of faith schools have warned that religious fanatics could try to take advantage of the new law and create schools that teach their beliefs. Dawkins has described faith schools as a form of child abuse.

Gove told MPs that he encouraged atheists to start their own schools.