Tags: Scotland
Creationist appointed to South Lanarkshire education committee
Posted: Wed, 24 Jan 2018
The NSS has called for reform of council education committee structures in Scotland after an "active" creationist was reappointed to one. Read More »
Stornoway shop owner harassed by sabbatarians
Posted: Thu, 09 Nov 2017
A Stornoway shop owner has been the victim of harassment and intimidation by sabbatarians due to the owner's decision to open on Sundays. Read More »
Joint faith school campus brings segregation under one roof
Posted: Fri, 18 Aug 2017
A new £17m campus which houses Catholic and Jewish faith schools together has opened in East Renfrewshire. Read More »
Scottish government plans to roll back religious influence over education
Posted: Thu, 13 Jul 2017
The Scottish government is planning to curtail the influence of religious leaders over state education. Read More »
Vetting in Scottish Catholic schools 'putting off non-Catholic teachers'
Posted: Tue, 11 Jul 2017
The leader of Scotland's biggest teachers' union has said fewer non-Catholics are teaching in the country's Catholic schools because teachers can be vetted according to their religious views. Read More »
Four religious representatives appointed to Hebrides education committee
Posted: Thu, 18 May 2017
The Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the local authority for the Hebrides, has appointed four religious figures to its education committee, as it is required to do by law. Read More »
“No evidence” that denominational schools are academically superior, study finds
Posted: Mon, 03 Apr 2017
A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research has found that there is "no evidence" to suggest Scotland's denominational schools achieve better results than their non-denominational counterparts. Read More »
MP calls for Scotland to embrace a secular education system
Posted: Mon, 13 Mar 2017
Tommy Sheppard MP has called for Scotland to move towards a secular education system and expressed his hope that secularist campaigners can "chip away" at religion's role in state schools. Read More »
“No explanation” for why council is declining Sabbath swimming cheque
Posted: Mon, 27 Feb 2017
Local campaigners have accused Lewis council of "blinding inconsistencies and contradictions" after it declined £11,400 to fund the opening of a sports centre on the Sabbath. Read More »
Church appointee tells education committee learning about “LGBT lifestyles” leaves children “disturbed”
Posted: Mon, 30 Jan 2017
A clergyman has used his privileged position on Highland Council education committee to attack "overt" LGBT people. Read More »
Council declines £11,000 donation, to avoid opening a sports centre on the Sabbath
Posted: Wed, 25 Jan 2017
Campaigners have criticised Lewis Council after councillors declined a donation of over £11,000 intended to fund the opening of a popular swimming pool on Sundays. Read More »
NSS urges Scottish Government to tackle governance failures concerning religion in schools
Posted: Tue, 10 Jan 2017
The National Secular Society has highlighted failures in the governance of Scottish schools, identifying a string of incidents where pupils have been exposed in schools to extreme religious views. Read More »
Scottish Government consults on religious observance, as poll shows majority favour reform
Posted: Thu, 05 Jan 2017
The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on religious observance, following a court case last year and a poll from The Times which found a majority in favour of change. Read More »
Call to found an Islamic faith school in Scotland ‘open to all’
Posted: Wed, 14 Dec 2016
An academic at the University of Edinburgh has called for the Scottish Government to open an Islamic faith school in response to the country's "multifaith and multicultural landscape". Read More »
Sabbath swimming campaign succeeds, thanks to islanders and secularists
Posted: Tue, 13 Dec 2016
Local campaigners have succeeded in their effort to secure funding to open a popular swimming pool on Sundays – denying the local council of their last pretext not to open it on the Sabbath. Read More »
Help stop sabbatarians spoiling Sunday swimming
Posted: Fri, 02 Dec 2016
The National Secular Society is appealing to the Great British public to help a fundraising effort to open a swimming pool on the Isle of Lewis on Sundays, which councillors are currently refusing to open on the Sabbath. Read More »
Scottish Government to consult on religious observance guidance
Posted: Mon, 07 Nov 2016
Campaigners in Scotland have agreed to "pause" their legal action on religious observance in Scottish schools, pending a consultation by the Scottish Government. Read More »
Scottish secularists challenge unelected church-appointees on Local Authority Education Committees
Posted: Thu, 13 Oct 2016
The Scottish Secular Society has launched a petition challenging the lack of democratic accountability in Local Authority Education Committees automatically including Church nominees. Read More »
New survey reveals Scots’ attitudes to religious symbols at work
Posted: Tue, 04 Oct 2016
The 2015 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey has found Scots to be increasingly accepting of ethnic and religious diversity, though many still have particular concerns about Islam. Read More »
Campaigns against school worship gain momentum in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Posted: Wed, 14 Sep 2016
The Humanist Society Scotland (HSS) has launched a judicial review against the Scottish Government following its refusal to allow sixth form pupils to opt themselves out of Religious Observance. Read More »
