Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has sparked controversy in Westminster with plans to change the way religion is taught in schools.

Her proposals, reported in the Mail on Sunday, would require every religious studies GCSE student to learn about two religions, rather than just one “world religion” as the course currently stipulates.

The move is designed to tackle Islamic extremism spreading in schools following the ‘Trojan Horse’ allegations in Birmingham earlier this year, when hard-line Islamists were found to be infiltrating non-faith state schools.

But Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is opposed to the plan, arguing it “violates religious freedom” and could compel Jewish and Catholic schools to teach their students about Islam.

Mr Pickles is said to have won the support of Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, as well as Catholic leaders.

A Westminster source told the Mail on Sunday: “Eric has really gone off on one over this. He thinks it is just meddling, and it will have a knock-on effect on the freedom of Catholic and Jewish schools to restrict their teachings to just their faith and preserve their distinctive ethos.”

The Chief Rabbi is expected to discuss these developments with Prime Minister David Cameron when the two meet later this month.