Religious observance consulation

Scottish Parent Teacher Council directors recently had a vigorous debate about the consultation on Religious Observance. We thought that individual parents would have a range of views and so have done our best to encourage individuals to respond to the consultation both through personal contact and by putting information about the consultation on our website. In terms of our response, we are not able to fill in the questionnaire meaningfully, and so give the following considered view.

Legal Position

We note that, whilst the 1980 Education Act gives education authorities "liberty to continue the said custom" of religious observance, it is SOED circular 6/91 which details the then Secretary of State's advice that secondary schools should provide at least a monthly opportunity for religious observance. Moreover, the HMIE report of Standards and Quality in Secondary Schools: Religious and Moral Education 1995-2000 found that many secondary schools did not follow this advice. We therefore note the difference between the statutory position, which allows education authorities flexibility, and the "advice", which presumably does not have the force of law but against which HMIE report.

We would submit the flexible legal position on religious observance is the one which should take precedence, not the advice contained in circular 6/91.

This is in line with remit of the Religious Observance Review Group. This is to revise guidance (i.e. circular 6/91) ensuring that new guidance fulfils the requirements of the 1980 Act, which would restore the flexible position. Moreover, it would fit in with Scotland's new devolved status and reflect the multi-cultural and multi-faith society of modern Scotland.

We note that religious observance in Roman Catholic Schools is not affected by this consultation and is governed by separate legislation.

What is meant by religious observance

In our discussions, it was agreed that an essential element of religion is faith or belief. The definition of religious observance, offered in the consultation document, is not an adequate definition of religious observance. It could be used, unchanged, to apply to citizenship or values' education, neither of which need have a religious element.
Similarly "spiritual development", "spiritual being" and "whole person" are very ambiguous terms and none need have a religious dimension.

We feel that the concept of religious observance has been watered down in an attempt to fit it to 21st century Scotland, which is a multi-faith and no-faith society that has moved a long way since 1980. We feel the time has come to remove the compulsory requirement on schools for religious observance and replace it by a more secular duty for the development of the whole person. This would include "a deeper understanding of the value and worth of each individual which comes from one's dignity as a person"

We think that the nature, organisation, venue and frequency of school gatherings should be determined locally, with the agreement of the school community. In some areas this might mean religious observance, with a faith or belief element. In others, the focus might be on more secular "spiritual" development. Moreover, this would be in line with a new approach to allow schools more flexibility over the curriculum as mentioned in the Executive's response to the National Debate.