The BHA is leading a new parliamentary campaign to end compulsory collective worship in schools. Julian Huppert MP, member of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) calling for the law requiring schools to hold a daily act of “broadly Christian” worship to be repealed. The EDM notes that repealing the law would reflect the Government’s wish to free schools from prescriptive statutory requirements and stresses the educational value of inclusive school assemblies.
The EDM comes just days after a suggestion to repeal the law on collective worship became one of the most popular ideas on the Government’s “Your Freedom” website.
BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson stated,
‘We welcome this EDM calling for an end to compulsory collective worship and urge all MPs to sign it. The law is a clear infringement of the right to freedom of belief, forcing pupils to take part in worship regardless of what they personally believe. Teachers too are put in a very difficult position, having to lead acts of worship which may not represent their own beliefs.’
‘Teachers, parents and pupils themselves have consistently opposed compulsory collective worship. In scrapping this outdated and discriminatory law, schools will be free to hold inclusive educational assemblies which can build shared values and a sense of community.’
Notes
Further comment or information from Andrew Copson on 020 3675 0959.
The law currently requires all schools to have a daily act of ‘broadly Christian’ worship.
Ask your MP to back the campaign.
More details on Collective Worship.
The British Humanist Association is the national charity representing and supporting the interests of ethically concerned, non-religious people in the UK. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.