Catholic headteachers last night welcomed reassurances from Peter Peacock, the education minister, that denominational schools would remain part of the state sector for as long as parents want them.
Mr Peacock told the annual conference of the Catholic Headteachers’ Association of Scotland (CHAS) that faith-based schools had "an important role" to play in Scottish education.
The minister also praised the record of Catholic schools and said they would continue to receive government support.
His comments came after the debate over the future of denominational schools was reignited north of the Border following the opening of Scotland’s first mixed-faith secondary school campus in February.
"They [denominational schools] give parents another option within the state-school sector," the minister told delegates at Crieff Hydro, in Perthshire.
"Many parents support denominational schools and want to send their children to such schools. Local authorities provide these schools to help meet this demand, and we support them in this choice."
He added: "Scotland’s Catholic schools have an excellent record of achievement and will continue to receive government support as long as parents want that choice."
Controversy greeted the opening of Scotland’s first mixed-faith secondary school campus in Dalkeith, Midlothian, in February.
The complex, which is shared by St David’s RC High School and the non-denominational Dalkeith High, was hailed as a landmark in moves to heal sectarian divisions in Scottish society. But some parents claimed there was conflict between pupils initially.
A row also broke out over similar plans in North Lanarkshire, where the local council wants to build seven new primaries with Roman Catholic and non-denominational schools sharing facilities. Talks are still ongoing over demands by church leaders for separate visitor entrances.
A group of Scots Labour MPs also waded into the argument when they broke party ranks and called for all faith-based schools to be abolished.
But Mr Peacock yesterday insisted that mixed-faith campuses would not signal the end of denominational schools.
He said: "These campuses are not about eroding the lines between denominational and non-denominational schools, but about working together to get the best results for all.
"It is up to local authorities to decide whether joint campuses are appropriate, but this should only happen in the best interests of pupils and take account of the views of parents, schools and church representatives."
A CHAS spokesman, Pat Sweeney, the headteacher of St Margaret’s Academy in Livingston, said delegates had been reassured by the minister’s comments.
He said: "We took it from the minister’s comments that he is guaranteeing the future of Catholic schools and that is something that we welcome.
"He recognises the specific contribution of Catholic schools to the values of Scottish education and we were very encouraged by that.
"The minister also made it clear that there was no agenda to force shared campuses through on the part of the Executive. Instead, there has to be a local desire and we saw that as a very positive thing."
Mr Sweeney said his organisation was also heartened by what the minister had to say on the future of religious observance in schools.
Jack McConnell, the First Minister, set up a review group to look into the matter as education minister three years ago.
It is understood that the review-group report recommends that schools concentrate more on the spiritual development of individuals rather than having a duty placed on them to hold Christian assemblies.
Mr Sweeney added: "We want to celebrate the culture of others, but we were reassured that Christian worship will remain part of the curriculum."