Wales to review school worship guidance, Wales Humanists say law must change

The Welsh Government has announced that it will review its guidance on collective worship in schools. Although Wales Humanists welcomes this announcement, it says that the move does not go far enough, and only a complete repeal of collective worship would address the issues raised in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on JR87.

The decision to review the guidance, Circular 10/94, follows developments in England and growing scrutiny of the law requiring schools to hold daily acts of worship. Under current legislation, all state schools must organise collective worship, which in schools without a religious character must be ‘wholly or mainly of a Christian character.’ Wales Humanists called on the Welsh Government to initiate a review of the statutory requirement for collective worship in Welsh schools following the Supreme Court ruling.

Collective worship requirements are unpopular with school leaders and teachers. A 2024 Teacher Tapp poll found that 70% of school leaders opposed the current law mandating schools to hold a daily act of collective Christian worship. The requirements are also in direct opposition to the curriculum for Wales, where Religion Values and Ethics must be taught objectively, and include both religious and non-religious beliefs.

Wales Humanists Coordinator Kathy Riddick commented

‘While it’s positive that the Welsh Government is reviewing guidance on collective worship, this alone cannot fix the underlying problem while the law still requires schools to organise daily worship, even though many pupils and families are not religious.

‘Schools should instead hold inclusive assemblies that bring pupils together for reflection and shared values without promoting any particular religion. That’s what we’ve called for and we’ll be reiterating these arguments when we meet with officials.’