ECJ: non-stun slaughter breaches ‘highest welfare standards’
Posted: Tue, 26 Feb 2019
Meat from animals slaughtered without pre-stunning cannot be labelled organic because of animal welfare concerns, an EU court has found. Read More »
NSS welcomes updated guidance on relationships & sex education
Posted: Mon, 25 Feb 2019
The government has resisted religious pressure to extend parents' right to withdraw their children from relationships and sex education. Read More »
Protect free speech, NSS tells Scottish review of hate crime laws
Posted: Fri, 22 Feb 2019
The NSS has urged the Scottish government to protect free speech and abolish blasphemy laws as it considers proposals on hate crime. Read More »
Ofsted head defends relationships education amid religious pressure
Posted: Thu, 21 Feb 2019
The chief inspector of England's schools has said all children should learn about same-sex couples. Read More »
Jewish nursery which sacked cohabiting woman partially wins appeal
Posted: Thu, 21 Feb 2019
The National Secular Society has said a ruling that a woman who was sacked for living with her boyfriend did not suffer religious discrimination "undermines freedom from religion".
The NSS has also warned that the ruling could have implications for teachers... Read More »
Dissenting Orthodox Jew Izzy Posen to speak at Secularism 2019
Posted: Wed, 20 Feb 2019
Izzy Posen, who dissented from his upbringing in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, will speak at the NSS's Secularism 2019 conference. Read More »
Failing faith school harming pupils’ wellbeing, says Ofsted
Posted: Mon, 18 Feb 2019
An independent Jewish faith school in London has been found 'inadequate' in all areas after an inspection uncovered a litany of failures. Read More »
NSS: DfE must stand up to religious bullying over sex education
Posted: Fri, 15 Feb 2019
The NSS has highlighted the bigoted messages of religious anti-RSE campaigners. Read More »
NSS welcomes guidance which promotes free speech at universities
Posted: Fri, 15 Feb 2019
The NSS has welcomed official guidance which aims to ensure universities "remain a forum for open and robust enquiry". Read More »
Britain risks becoming a ‘hotbed of non-stun slaughter’, warns NSS
Posted: Fri, 15 Feb 2019
The NSS has warned the government over non-stun slaughter after it emerged that nearly a quarter of non-stun sheep meat is exported. Read More »
School breaks ties with group that hosted Islamic extremists
Posted: Thu, 14 Feb 2019
A school has stopped letting its premises to an Islamic weekend school after the NSS raised concerns over the messages it was promoting. Read More »
Government to crack down on illegal and failing independent schools
Posted: Tue, 12 Feb 2019
The NSS has welcomed government plans to promote integration by legislating against unregistered and failing independent schools. Read More »
Experts: persecuted Christians review should have broader focus
Posted: Mon, 11 Feb 2019
A United Nations special rapporteur has urged the government to take a broader view of religious freedom in response to a review focusing on Christian persecution.
In an open letter signatories including Dr Ahmed Shaheed, the UN's special rapporteur on freedom... Read More »
Event to mark 30th anniversary of fatwa against Salman Rushdie
Posted: Fri, 08 Feb 2019
An event to commemorate the women who defended the right to publish The Satanic Verses is to be held in London next Thursday. Read More »
Animal welfare groups ask government to end non-stun slaughter
Posted: Fri, 08 Feb 2019
Animal welfare advocates are urging the government to repeal a legal exemption which allows the religious non-stun slaughter of animals. Read More »
School cancels play about evolution after Christian parents object
Posted: Fri, 08 Feb 2019
A school has cancelled a play about the discovery of evolution amid objections from Christian parents. Read More »
Bishop helps scupper amendment to let CoE allow same-sex marriage
Posted: Thu, 07 Feb 2019
An amendment that would make it easier for the C of E to allow same-sex marriage has been withdrawn amid opposition from a bishop. Read More »
Schools warned as parents refuse to let pupils speak to inspectors
Posted: Thu, 07 Feb 2019
The government has told independent schools inspectors must be able to speak to pupils after a Jewish school received a warning notice. Read More »
NSS: government must push Vatican to cooperate with abuse inquiry
Posted: Tue, 05 Feb 2019
The NSS has urged the prime minister to raise the Catholic Church's failure to cooperate with a child abuse inquiry with the Vatican. Read More »
Isle of Man parents voice concern over RE ‘propaganda’
Posted: Fri, 01 Feb 2019
The National Secular Society has called for improved vetting and standards for religious education resources after parents accused a school of handing religious "propaganda" to pupils. Read More »
