Wales Humanists have urged the Senedd’s Children, Young People and Education Committee to reform collective worship during the Seventh Senedd. In evidence to the committee, Wales Humanists called on the Senedd to investigate compulsory school worship and pave the way for inclusive assemblies for all pupils.
Schools in Wales are still legally required to provide a daily act of collective worship. In schools without a religious character, this must be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character. This is increasingly out of step with both modern Wales and the inclusive principles of the Curriculum for Wales. Pupils are taught about religious and non-religious beliefs through Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE), yet are still required to participate in religious worship.
Wales Humanists is calling for compulsory worship in schools without a religious character to be replaced with inclusive assemblies, allowing schools to bring pupils together to reflect on shared values, ethical questions, important events, and issues affecting their communities.
Whilst the Welsh Government has committed to reviewing collective worship guidance, the guidance alone cannot solve the problem. The requirement for worship in all state schools is a legal duty which has existed since 1944, and needs to be changed to bring it in line with Wales today.
It is therefore calling on the Committee to examine the current arrangements, including children’s experiences, withdrawal rights, and the compatibility of compulsory worship with children’s freedom of religion or belief, and to consider the case for legislative reform.
Kathy Riddick, Wales Humanists Policy and Campaigns Manager, said:
‘Children should not have to choose between taking part in religious worship they do not share, and being separated from their classmates. Our schools should be places where every child can participate equally.
‘Wales has already recognised the importance of representing both religious and non-religious beliefs in the curriculum. It is now time to bring our approach to school assemblies into line with those values.’
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For further comment or information, media should contact Wales Humanists Coordinator Kathy Riddick at kathy@humanists.uk or phone 029 2168 3532.
Read more about our work on collective worship.
Read Wales Humanists call for a review of Collective Worship in Wales.
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