Updated
The Westminster Faith Debates today release A New Settlement: Religion and Belief in Schools by Charles Clarke, the former education secretary, and Linda Woodhead, professor of sociology of religion at Lancaster University.
Press reports include:
Barney Thompson Financial Times Call to overhaul religious education in schools
Richard Garner Independent Schools told to end religious instruction and teach morality instead
Press Association in The Guardian Scrap compulsory worship in schools, says former education secretary
The Guardian editorial The Guardian view on religious education in schools: don’t trash it, transform itJavier Espinoza Telegraph It’s time to end compulsory daily worship in schools, says Clarke
Ruth Gledhill Christian Today Abolish religious assemblies in schools, says new report
Sean Coughlan BBC News Call to end compulsory worship in schools
Charles Clarke was interviewed on the BBC Radio4 Today programme this morning, starting at 02hr 54min.
The Church of England has issued this Statement on RE and collective worship, apparently in response to the paper, although since it fails to mention either the pamphlet or its authors it could be a complete coincidence.
Update
Rev Nigel Genders, Church of England Chief Education Officer RE must not be downgraded
In my opinion, and as a teacher of over 20 years, I think faith allegiances should be entirely separated from the governance of state-funded schools. I am opposed to faith schools of all kinds. If any church or mosque wants to run a school, they should fund it themselves. Ideally, faith gets taught in churches and mosques and other religious centres. Faith and morality and spirituality can still be studied in schools, without any of the governance and oversight that links schools to one specific religious tradition in a society of multiple religions as well as agnosticism and atheism. As… Read more »
As a PP I agree entirely with Susannah Clark.
What is it that makes Church Schools so popular and so successful? I would suggest that it is the Christian ethos and the inclusion of worship that make them so. In my opinion Church Schools are “simply the best”.
Susannah and Fr William, others I’m sure will correct me if I’m wrong, but my reading of the history of schools education is that churches did precisely what your advocating – before the state became heavily involved in mass education it was churches who set up schools for the benefit of the local communities. It was when the schooling system was effectively nationalised with the establishment of board schools that a deal/ partnership was struck between state and church, with VC, VA and C of E foundations being set up. Rather than set up unnecessary and less unpopular ‘rival’ schools… Read more »