Children's Rights in Action: Reforming Religious Observance in Scottish Schools
DOI | 10.3366/elr.2017.0417 |
Pages | 257-261 |
Published date | 01 May 2017 |
Date | 01 May 2017 |
The practice of religious observance in state-funded Scottish schools is currently under review. In addition to providing religious education, in which pupils learn
The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 imposes various obligations on local authorities, acting in this context as “education authorities”, in relation to the provision of state-funded schools. Unlike elsewhere in the UK, the curriculum in Scottish schools is not regulated by statute. However, section 8 of the 1980 Act specifies that:
Whereas it has been the custom in the public schools of Scotland for religious observance to be practised…be it enacted that education authorities… shall be at liberty to continue the said custom;
It shall not be lawful for an education authority… to discontinue religious observance…unless and until a resolution in favour of such discontinuance…has been approved by a majority of electors [for the education area].
Many school communities contain pupils and staff from faiths other than Christianity or with no faith commitment, and
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