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Religious observance legislation ignored by many Scottish schools

Since 2005 parents in Scotland have had the right to withdraw their children from religious observance in schools and to be informed of this choice. However the Humanist Society of Scotland reveals that with less than two weeks until Scottish schools open their doors for the new academic year, most parents remain unaware of options when it comes to religious observance and education and are failing families by ignoring legislation.

Ross Wright, from the Humanist Society Scotland’s education committee said: “A lot of parents are not religious. In the 2001 census more than a quarter of Scots said they had no religion and in the under 50 age group, it is a lot higher. About 80% of people who have no particular faith are under 50 years of age. As parents fall into this age bracket this is a very significant number and they should be kept informed of their rights.

 “Although some schools do include opt-out information in the parents’ handbook somewhere, it is often buried among obscure or minority interest items and more importantly, few schools provide a ‘suitable alternative’ for those children whose parents wish them to not participate in religious observance.

 “The law is quite clear in that parents should have a choice and that where those parents choose for their child not to participate in religious activities their rights should be made clear to them, and a suitable alternative activity provided for the child.  We know that in some schools parents are not informed of their rights in relation to this, and a few schools have even pro-actively persuaded those parents who have requested for their child to opt out of religious observance to re-consider.

 “We have heard of cases where a senior pupil wrote to the rector asking for permission to stay away from religious lessons since he did not believe in God and to use the time for private study as his final exams were imminent. Permission was refused. Another parent was referred by a head teacher to an official at the department of education who seemed unaware of the guidelines.”

 The Society recognises that headteachers and staff are under pressure to follow changing guidelines and some may even be unaware of these aspects of the legislation themselves.

The Humanist Society believes some schools are also unwilling to supervise opted-out pupils and as a result parents can be put under pressure to conform – despite the fact that the legislation calls for parents’ views to be “respected”.

The guidelines also state that, “schools should make suitable arrangements for the child to participate in a worthwhile activity”.

Said Bob Mckay, convenor of the HSS and former Education Director: “Unfortunately the reality is that that if children do opt out they are often given uninspiring activities such as sitting with a book – even, in one case, a five year old who had just started primary one and had not yet mastered the art of reading. However we have provided schools, via our website, with interesting and stimulating materials covering issues of philosophy and morality which teachers can use with classes or which senior pupils an access on their own.”

“This is not an anti-religion campaign. We totally respect people’s rights to their own beliefs however, we also believe that that right should be extended to those who do not have religious beliefs. This is what the legislation was designed for and we would like to see more information available to parents so that they can then make a fully informed decision on behalf of their children.”

The Humanist Society of Scotland is hoping to raise awareness amongst parents of the alternatives their children have the right to during religious observance and teaching so that they can make informed choices.

HSS is inviting parents and other members of the public to a meeting on Sunday 9th August at 11am at the Pond Hotel in Glasgow.

The meeting will give parents, pupils and educators an opportunity to get a more complete picture of current rights and practices and to give parents the chance to meet other like-minded families, perhaps even from their own schools, so that they feel more able to approach their schools together. A number of people will address the meeting including Bob McKay, a former director of education and convenor of the HSS, Ross Wright, who produced a guide to parents and senior pupils on recent legislation and their subsequent rights under the law, Ian Scott, senior pupil in a Scottish school and Tracey Scothern, a concerned parent.

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