At a meeting last week, the West Sussex Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education (SACRE) rejected an application by Mid Sussex resident Andrew Edmondson to join the committee.

Mr Edmondson, a former teacher and founder of Mid Sussex Freethinkers, applied to join the committee to represent non-religious parents and residents, and promote the inclusion in RE of secular philosophies such as Humanism, which government advice recommends should be taught to make the subject inclusive of all children.

Mr Edmondson's application was supported by the British Humanist Association (BHA), the national body representing the non-religious.

BHA education officer Andrew Copson commented: "Humanists have made a significant contribution to RE over the last few decades, whether as individual teachers or advisers or through the BHA's own education work.

"It is sad that West Sussex SACRE does not seem to have recognised this and has missed an opportunity to take an inclusive approach. If RE is to be a meaningful subject for all, then those whose values are not religious must be included."

Humanists believe people can lead good lives without religion and use reason to explain the world and solve problems. They believe everyone should be free to live by the religion or philosophy of their choice if it causes no harm to others.

At the SACRE meeting, representatives of the Church of England and teachers supported Mr Edmondson joining the committee. But representatives of the local authority and minority religions including Baptists, Baha'is, Roman Catholics and Quakers voted against.

Mr Edmondson, who lives in Balcombe, said: "The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and many other national organisations endorse the inclusion of Humanism in RE in order to provide a broad and balanced curriculum.

"Seventeen per cent of people in West Sussex said they were not religious in the 2001 census – that's higher than the national average and more than ten times the number of Buddhists, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs combined – they are being failed by the system."

Cllr Margaret Collins, chairman of SACRE, said: "Following a lengthy debate lasting three meetings, including a presentation from a Humanist, SACRE decided by a majority vote not to include a non religious organisation within its membership."

A WSCC spokesperson added that secondary schools already included Humanist views in the curriculum; the SACRE was currently reviewing the curriculum and would take any government recommendations into account.

Mid Sussex Freethinkers' website, which encourages debate and representation to councillors, is at www.midsussexfreethinkers.org.uk