The Dover School for All Nations (DSFAN) has defended itself against claims from a national campaigner accusing its curriculum of being fundamentalist.

The claims come from Jonny Scaramanga, a national campaigner against Christian fundamentalism, which is a strict interpretation of Bible teachings. Mr Scaramanga says this means that, among other things, school pupils will be taught that wives should obey their husbands and submit to their authority.

DSFAN, on the former Club Dover Site in Port Zone, Whitfield since January 6, is an independent private Christian school, accommodating children aged four to 18.

It uses an approved Accelerated Christian Education curriculum, which incorporates Biblical studies into the education of children.

Mr Scaramanga said in a statement sent to the Mercury: “The Ofsted-regulated school will teach children that a wife should ‘be obedient to her husband by submitting to his authority’ and that pupils should never kiss or cuddle a member of the opposite sex until their wedding night.”

Mr Scaramanga, from Bristol, has written to other national newspapers and appeared on TV’s Newsnight with his general thoughts on fundamentalist Christian teaching.

The school started with 30 pupils and 10 pre-school nursery children in January, and plans to grow to 197 students and 55 pre-school children by 2018, with a total of 30 staff.

Managing director of DSFAN, Richard Fleming, said: “We are not a fundamentalist Christian school. We are just a regular Christian school.

“We are not a fundamentalist Christian school. We are just a regular Christian school." - Richard Fleming, managing director

“We operate the Accelerated Christian Education programme that’s operated around the world, it is very mainstream.”

Ofsted approved DSFAN on January 21.

“Like all things, there are always extremes at both ends,” he added.

“Prefer each other as you would like to be preferred.

“It is crucial to the Lord’s heart to love your neighbour as you would love yourself.”

An outline of the syllabus on sex, relationships and marriage policy at the school reads: “It is the purpose of DSFAN to teach sex and relationships in line with the Bible, but also to make students aware that the law of the land does allow same-sex marriages, but as a school we believe that marriage should be of one man and one woman which is the mainstream teaching, legitimate and lawful.”

Mr Fleming said the school is “sailing through everything” and he is “really pleased” with the children and parents.