Collective worship in schools

Section 70 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 stipulates that pupils of community, foundation or voluntary schools in England and Wales must take part in a daily act of Collective Worship,[1] unless they have been explicitly withdrawn by their parents.[2] The same requirement is applied to academy schools via their funding agreements,[3] so it is true to say that all maintained schools in England and Wales are subject to the same rules. However, in practice there is widespread non-compliance with the legislation, which has not been monitored by Ofsted since 2004.[4]

The responsibility for ensuring that the rules are applied rests with a school's head teacher, its governing body and the Local Education Authority. Local Education Authorities normally exercise this function via a Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE).[1]

  1. ^ a b "Section 70, School Standards and Framework Act 1988". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Section 71, School Standards and Framework Act, 1988". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Religious Education (RE) and Collective Worship in Academies and Free Schools Q&A" (PDF). Natre.org.uk. National Association of Teachers of Religious Education. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  4. ^ Curtis, Polly (11 June 2004). "End daily worship in schools, says Ofsted head". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 February 2018.