MPs have backed a push to ensure that state schools in England uphold the legal requirement to teach Religious Education (RE), which, in most cases, reflects the centrality of Christianity.
Leading a Westminster Hall debate on the issue, MP Martin Vickers highlighted a briefing from The Christian Institute, and drew attention to the National Association of Teachers of RE’s report on the Department for Education’s 2021 school workforce census.
The census revealed that one in five schools did not teach the subject of RE at all in year eleven, despite being required by law to do so. An average of ten per cent of schools gave no time to RE in years seven, eight and nine.
Foundation
Christian MP Nick Fletcher told members that “without an understanding of Christianity it is not possible to understand British culture or the foundations of our institutions and laws”.
He explained: “We are not about excluding other religions from consideration — quite the opposite. They should be properly recognised and taken account of in the preparation of the RE syllabus, but RE needs to recognise the particular place of Christianity in Great Britain.
“Young people are entitled to be taught about it; that is what the law requires. However, under pressure from many competing demands, the failure of Ofsted to hold schools to account regarding this requirement means that it is all too tempting to let it slip”.
without an understanding of Christianity it is not possible to understand British culture or the foundations of our institutions and laws
‘Important’
In response, Nick Gibb, a Minister at the Department for Education, stated: “I should be clear that all mainstream, state-funded schools are required to teach RE. Schools that are not teaching RE are acting unlawfully or are in breach of their funding agreement.
He added that collective worship is also “an important part of school life”, which “encourages pupils to reflect on the concept of belief and the role it plays in the traditions and values of this country” and “includes important moral and ethical issues”.
Gibb reiterated the Government’s commitment to upholding mandatory collective worship, RE, and parents’ right to withdraw their children from the subject. He highlighted that if a school fails in these provisions, it should be raised via the school’s complaints procedure which can be escalated to the Department for Education if it is not resolved.
Schools that are not teaching RE are acting unlawfully or are in breach of their funding agreement
The Minister added that he will keep the idea of reissuing Government guidance on the topic “under consideration”, and it is currently working with Oak National Academy to produce “curriculum materials, maps and plans for religious education”.
Northern Ireland
Earlier this year, a judge ruled that exclusively Christian RE lessons in Northern Irish primary schools are unlawful. Currently, provisions in the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986 mean that RE lessons and daily collective worship (CW) such as assemblies must focus on Christianity.
But a legal challenge was launched against the NI Department of Education on behalf of a seven-year-old girl and her father. They describe themselves as being a non-religious family, and the girl’s parents were concerned the focus on Christian teaching may lead her to adopt that worldview.
The Christian Institute’s Director Colin Hart said at the time: “This is a very surprising ruling. As it stands, the law protects human rights, it doesn’t set them aside. The judge seems to have completely dismissed the crucial right of withdrawal available to this girl’s father and indeed all parents.”
The ruling is being appealed.
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