Headteachers' leader backs call to scrap worship in schools law

Freedom of belief: Brian Lightman general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) is against the rule of worship in schools

A headteachers' leader backed calls for the Government to scrap a law requiring children to take part in daily 'acts of worship'.



A letter, sent to Education Secretary Michael Gove, organised by the British Humanist Association (BHA), argues that a rule stating schools must provide 'daily collective worship' infringes children's right to 'freedom of belief' and prevents schools from providing inclusive assemblies.



It claims most schools do not stick to the law because they do not have the space physically or in the timetable.

The call was backed by Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), which represents headteachers.



Mr Lightman told the Times Educational Supplement (TES): 'It's been an area of anomalous legislation for some time: the way it is worded is restrictive in the way schools can approach school assemblies and in many respects it is unworkable.'



Many schools do not have the time for daily worship and the alternative 'thought for the day' in classes depends on the co-operation of teachers who may have a range of beliefs.



'Many schools aren't doing it and theoretically they are breaking the law,' Mr Lightman said.



The letter has also been signed by other leaders such as Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Tehmina Kazi, director of British Muslims for Secular Democracy, and Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, chair of the Accord Coalition and the BHA.



It says: 'The law actually impedes schools' ability to provide good inclusive assemblies and in practice the vast majority do not hold daily acts of collective worship, both because they lack space physically and in the timetable and because there are more effective ways of instilling shared values and a strong ethos in pupils.



'Assemblies have a vital educational role - they can bring a school together in celebration of common values, and can assist pupils in exploring questions of purpose, value and meaning together.



'Teachers can and do deliver assemblies which are accessible, inspirational, and linked to the curriculum.



These aims, however, are not best served by a law that forces schools to hold acts of 'reverence or veneration paid to a divine being or power'.'



Under English law, schools must provide 'a daily act of collective worship' that must be 'wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character'.'



Parents are allowed to withdraw their child if they disagree with it.

But, the letter says, this many mean withdrawn children miss out important aspects of the assembly, or feel isolated from classmates.



BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson said: 'There is no good argument for retaining a law which compels schools to hold daily acts of worship; a law which is outdated, discriminatory and most schools do not observe in any case.'