Religious Teaching In Schools

The law requires Religious Education to be taught in schools. For many years it was the only compulsory topic in the school curriculum. A religious element in daily school assemblies is also required by the law, but 80% of secondary schools do not conform with this legal requirement. Sometimes the reason is the practical difficulty of arranging assemblies, but often it is that the majority of pupils and staff do not wish to take part in an act of worship.

Legally, if a parent or guardian so requests, pupils can be excused from religious education lessons or religious assemblies. No reason need be given for such a request; however before making one, parents and pupils should be aware that such action might result in ostracism by fellow-pupils or even victimisation by teachers. We have heard of teachers retaliating against requests for withdrawal by excluding pupils from receiving information disseminated during assembly.

Secularists particularly object to religion being taught in schools as fact. If there is to be religious education, secularists consider pupils should be told that "some people believe this and others believe that and yet others believe none of these things".

Because they believe religious schools result in increased levels of sectarianism, Secularists would like to see the elimination of denominational or religious schools. This particularly applies to areas of historic tension between Protestants and Roman Catholics, such as in Northern Ireland, the west of Scotland and Liverpool. Cohesion in the community is also particularly at risk if religious schools result in pupils being segregated on ethnic and/or socio-economic lines. Communities will best learn to live peacefully together if they grow up - and learn - together, respecting each other’s differences. If they are separated into religious groupings at such an early age, racism and lack of understanding will inevitably increase.

NSS Parent Pack

We are often contacted by parents concerned about their children being indoctrinated with religion at schools. Sometimes the child is already at school, sometimes he or she is about to start and parents want to act pre-emptively.Because of the Government’s preoccupation with religion, any campaign to abandon or drastically reform RE is doomed to failure.

Secular parents therefore need to consider the best option
available under current arrangements, however unsatisfactory. Withdrawal is one possibility; we give some helpful advice on how to go about this.

This pack is designed to give parents the legal information they may need as well as specimen letters to send out. It covers both RE lessons and collective worship.

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