Unbeknown to many, all state maintained schools in England and Wales are legally required to provide their pupils with daily Collective Worship. In faith schools the worship is supposed to be provided in accordance with the school’s designated religion or religious denomination, while in all other schools the worship should be ‘wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character’.

Parents are able to withdraw their children from Collective Worship in state schools, while sixth form pupils and those over compulsory school age can withdraw themselves. However, this is an unsatisfactory solution.

By custom schools provide Collective Worship as part of school assembly, and children that are withdrawn miss out on other aspects of assembly, such as the communication of school information or the ethical or moral teaching that is so often entwined with the worship. Children that are withdrawn are not always provided with an alternative activity, while many parents fear that their child may be singled out if they are withdrawn. In practice a great many parents who object to their child receiving Collective Worship do not exercise their right to have them withdrawn, while the views of children of compulsory schools age can be ignored altogether.

Paul Pettinger is a Liberal Democrat member in the Cities of London and Westminster local party. He was formerly a Party SAO employee and District Councillor. He is also the coordinator of the Accord coalition.

Full article: http://www.libdemvoice.org/should-religious-worship-be-part-of-school-assembly-20656.html