A selection of comments from the petition. Supporters on what this campaign means to them and the need to reform religion and belief education.
"Schools are in the business of education, not indoctrination. If RE us to be taught in schools, it should be taught in an unbiased academic way."
James from Bushy
"Schools are for education not indoctrination. Schools should help people understand each other, not drive them apart or discriminate against some children on the basis of religion. No discrimination and no proselytizing would be a good manifesto pledge."
A supporter from Carlisle
"RE should be descriptive and not normative. That is, our children should be educated in the belief structures and ethical approaches of the major religions, without being taught that any one of them is actually true. The teaching should include humanism. To allow local organisations, or even schools, to dictate religious teaching will literally foster parochialism. It will invite religious segregation and ignorance of other religious and non-religious people."
John from Crosthwaite
"Partisan religion has no role in education. If it must be taught it should be in a manner that indicates the variety and plurality of belief and non-belief."
A supporter from Leicester
"No school - especially those receiving funding from the state - should be permitted to teach about religion from their own exclusive viewpoint and the law should reflect this."
Martin from London
"National Curriculum should include study of diverse belief systems, philosophy, critical thinking - replacing partisan religious education."
Rod from Sevenoaks
"My child has been taught Christian doctrine as fact in RE. He was 5 years old and at a community school. It is especially important that RE subject leaders and teachers, often interested in the subject because of their own faith, understand - very clearly - that it is not an opportunity to invite others to share their faith."
Joe from Ringwood
"I've already excused my children from GCSE RE because the RE teachers at my kids' school consistently set work presupposing a belief in God and invite Evangelical locals to the school to teach literal interpretations of the Bible. This has to stop."
A supporter from Burscough
"I'm a lead RE teacher and a member of a SACRE. I can see that provision for the subject varies widely nationally and that faith groups have vested interests in forms of RE that are not broad and balanced. The ability for parents to withdraw their children is detrimental to the subject, but necessary while faith groups can be allowed to teach a biased curriculum."
A supporter from Bristol
"Because allowing local groups to determine the syllabus is unworkable. Most lack the knowledge and pedagogic skills (except the teachers) to be able to make any sensible recommendations. Most SACREs are heavily resistant to any form of secular or non-religious input."
Please consider supporting our petition or writing to your MP, tell them it's time to take decisions about religion and belief education away from local religious groups, and for real 21st Century RE for all.
A new study of a widely-used set of RE resources illustrates the way powerful groups control the subject to accommodate the evangelical mission of the Church of England, says Chris Selway.
As the government considers ways to end 'gay conversion therapy' it should give Ofsted the power to stop faith schools fostering anti-LGBT attitudes in the first place, says Megan Manson.
The Welsh government's plans to reform RE risk being a missed opportunity for more radical reform of the way we approach religion in schools, argues Stephen Evans.
Three-quarters of a century ago an enduring piece of legislation secured free education for all – but gave churches substantial control over schools in return. Keith Sharpe says this settlement needs...
The Welsh government is considering removing the parental right to withdraw from religious education. Alastair Lichten argues that despite potential benefits, reforms don't go far enough to justify ending...
National Secular Society
Challenging Religious Privilege
Supporters' comments
A selection of comments from the petition. Supporters on what this campaign means to them and the need to reform religion and belief education.
"Schools are in the business of education, not indoctrination. If RE us to be taught in schools, it should be taught in an unbiased academic way."
James from Bushy
"Schools are for education not indoctrination. Schools should help people understand each other, not drive them apart or discriminate against some children on the basis of religion. No discrimination and no proselytizing would be a good manifesto pledge."
A supporter from Carlisle
"RE should be descriptive and not normative. That is, our children should be educated in the belief structures and ethical approaches of the major religions, without being taught that any one of them is actually true. The teaching should include humanism. To allow local organisations, or even schools, to dictate religious teaching will literally foster parochialism. It will invite religious segregation and ignorance of other religious and non-religious people."
John from Crosthwaite
"Partisan religion has no role in education. If it must be taught it should be in a manner that indicates the variety and plurality of belief and non-belief."
A supporter from Leicester
"No school - especially those receiving funding from the state - should be permitted to teach about religion from their own exclusive viewpoint and the law should reflect this."
Martin from London
"National Curriculum should include study of diverse belief systems, philosophy, critical thinking - replacing partisan religious education."
Rod from Sevenoaks
"My child has been taught Christian doctrine as fact in RE. He was 5 years old and at a community school. It is especially important that RE subject leaders and teachers, often interested in the subject because of their own faith, understand - very clearly - that it is not an opportunity to invite others to share their faith."
Joe from Ringwood
"I've already excused my children from GCSE RE because the RE teachers at my kids' school consistently set work presupposing a belief in God and invite Evangelical locals to the school to teach literal interpretations of the Bible. This has to stop."
A supporter from Burscough
"I'm a lead RE teacher and a member of a SACRE. I can see that provision for the subject varies widely nationally and that faith groups have vested interests in forms of RE that are not broad and balanced. The ability for parents to withdraw their children is detrimental to the subject, but necessary while faith groups can be allowed to teach a biased curriculum."
A supporter from Bristol
"Because allowing local groups to determine the syllabus is unworkable. Most lack the knowledge and pedagogic skills (except the teachers) to be able to make any sensible recommendations. Most SACREs are heavily resistant to any form of secular or non-religious input."
John from Watford
Take action
Please consider supporting our petition or writing to your MP, tell them it's time to take decisions about religion and belief education away from local religious groups, and for real 21st Century RE for all.
Our Campaigns
Join our campaign for an inclusive and secular education system.
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Public services that are intended for the whole community, especially those funded by public money, should be provided in a secular context.
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We campaign on a wide range of topics where religious privilege impacts public life. Including:
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For over 150 years we have campaigned for disestablishment, the separation of the C of E and state.
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Related News
Posted: Wed, 09 Dec 2020
Religious pressure resisted as Welsh RE reform plans progress
A bill which would replace religious education with a more pluralistic alternative in Wales will proceed to the next parliamentary stage....
Posted: Wed, 09 Dec 2020
C of E’s control of RE damages subject’s credibility, says study
The C of E's theological approach to RE has come to dominate the subject amid a lack of government leadership, research has found.
Posted: Thu, 03 Dec 2020
Most Brits don’t consider religious studies important, poll finds
A majority of adults in Britain don't consider it important to teach religious studies at secondary school, according to a new poll.
Posted: Fri, 16 Oct 2020
NSS gives evidence to Senedd committee over Welsh curriculum reform
The NSS has said children's rights should take priority over religious interests in a new curriculum for Wales in evidence to the Senedd....
Posted: Fri, 25 Sep 2020
NSS urges Senedd to back curriculum reforms
The NSS has urged a Senedd education committee to back new legislation to reform religious studies and sex education in Wales.
Related Opinion
A new study of a widely-used set of RE resources illustrates the way powerful groups control the subject to accommodate the evangelical mission of the Church of England, says Chris Selway.
RE shouldn’t be a vehicle for the Church of England’s interests
Posted: Thu, 17 Dec 2020
As the government considers ways to end 'gay conversion therapy' it should give Ofsted the power to stop faith schools fostering anti-LGBT attitudes in the first place, says Megan Manson.
Why can't Ofsted stop state schools preaching that same-sex relationships are wrong?
Posted: Thu, 25 Jun 2020
The Welsh government's plans to reform RE risk being a missed opportunity for more radical reform of the way we approach religion in schools, argues Stephen Evans.
Will Wales lead the way in reforming Religious Education?
Posted: Tue, 02 Jun 2020
Three-quarters of a century ago an enduring piece of legislation secured free education for all – but gave churches substantial control over schools in return. Keith Sharpe says this settlement needs...
The 1944 Education Act was a landmark law – but let’s reconsider the privileges it granted to religion
Posted: Wed, 18 Dec 2019
The Welsh government is considering removing the parental right to withdraw from religious education. Alastair Lichten argues that despite potential benefits, reforms don't go far enough to justify ending...
This isn’t the time to end the right to withdraw from RE in Wales
Posted: Thu, 14 Nov 2019
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