MSP Letter: Religious appointees

Remove religious appointees from education committees

Writing to your MSP can help to get the campaign against compulsory worship in schools on the political agenda and show this is an issue their constituents care about. We campaign in parliament as an organisation, and your support will bolster our case. It is quick easy and helps your MP represent you in Parliament.

Tell your MSP that it's time to remove religious appointees from education committees.

Read our latest briefing on 'Religious appointees in education committees' to ensure that you are up to date and well informed surrounding this issue.

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Personalising your letter will make it more likely to have an impact.

MSPs will respond to casework even if they disagree on policy, so remember to tell them if you are being personally affected by this issue.

Keep your thoughts brief. MSPs are busy and get a lot of correspondence.

If you are not happy with an initial result, make sure you follow this up with them.

Use clear and simple language.

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Dear {{name}},

I am writing as a constituent to ask you to help raise the issue of religious appointees in education committees in Scotland.

The National Secular Society (NSS) have created a report called ‘Religious Reps: Unrepresentative, Unnecessary and Unjustified’ – which makes the case for removing religious appointees from education committees in Scotland.

You can find the report at: secularism.org.uk/uploads/religious-reps-unrepresentative-unnecessary-and-unjustified.pdf

The report calls for repeal Section 124 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which at present requires councils to appoint three religious representatives to their education committees.

Scotland like the majority of western democracies has moved over the last two centuries from a patchwork of voluntary schools provided by religious and other charities, to a modern universal state funded education system.

The Scottish education system should be accountable and responsive to all of its citizens’ needs.

Citizens of all faiths and beliefs can contribute to decisions about education, not only through the democratic processes, but through volunteering as governors, attending public meetings, or contribute to consultations and public debates.

Given this transformation – alongside radical changes to the nation’s increasingly diverse and irreligious population – a law mandating councils to provide a small subset of the population an additional privileged institutional role in education policy is outmoded, unjustifiable and ripe for reform.

The report draws on responses to the 2013 and 2016 petitions on this topic, views in the current debate and a survey of all 32 local authorities. It systematically examine the arguments for retaining religious appointees and their flaws, building a powerful case for change.

I know that I am not alone in feeling strongly about this matter, you can find many supporters of the campaign at: secularism.org.uk/end-compulsory-worship/comments

The NSS have produced a concise briefing on this matter. I hope that you will read their work here: secularism.org.uk/end-compulsory-worship/briefing

I look forward to hearing your views on this matter.

I hope that you will read the report and support its recommendations.

Yours sincerely,

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MSP Letter: Religious appointees

Remove religious appointees from education committees

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