Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

SACRE Item 12

6 November 2007

Compliance with Collective worship and RE in Hampshire schools

Report of the Director of Children's Services

1

Summary

1.1

SACRE's development plan identifies that SACRE addresses the issue of how well Hampshire schools comply with the legal requirements for collective worship and RE

1.2

This report provides a summary of the findings of the questionnaire sent to all Hampshire schools in January 2007 in relation to compliance in RE and collective worship

1.3

This paper supports the Corporate Strategy (maximising well being) by addressing the issues in relation to religious education and collective worship provided for pupils in schools.

2

Recommendations

3

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8

That SACRE notes the report and liaises with other interested parties to enquire about a foreseeable revision of the legal requirements.

Background

A questionnaire was sent to all Hampshire schools in January 2007. The returns provided the following findings in relation to compliance with the legal requirements for RE and collective worship.

Primary schools

92% of primary schools that returned the questionnaire are meeting the statutory requirements for RE This is a very positive response .

Returns identify that a high percentage of primary schools claim to satisfy legal requirements concerning collective worship (approximately 96%). However, 9% of responses indicate that not every act of collective worship offers opportunities for worship or reflection.

Secondary schools

Approximately two thirds of responses indicate that statutory requirements in relation to RE are met. A third of secondary schools are failing to meet the legal requirements. This is likely to indicate lack of provision for all pupils in Key Stage 4.

Approximately 75% of secondary schools do not satisfy statutory requirements for daily act of collective worship for all pupils. 43% of responses indicate that not every act of collective worship offers opportunities for worship/reflection and 40% of responses indicate that most of the acts of collective worship during a term are not of a broadly Christian character.

Discussions with teachers and advisors in other authorities reveal that this pattern is replicated nationally. Schools in the secondary phase frequently report that academic demands on the school prevent them from complying fully with the legislation for daily collective worship or that the required provision is inappropriate for their pupils.

There has been national debate for a number of years among educationalists about the need for revision of the primary legislation of 1988 and Circular 1/94 in relation to collective worship and the requirements for religious education at Key Stage 4.

Advice has been sought from National bodies, on behalf of SACRE, about foreseeable changes to the legislation. Responses are reported in Appendix 1.

.

LINK(S) TO CORPORATE STRATEGY

YES

NO

Hampshire safer and more secure for all

_

Maximising well-being

_

Enhancing our quality of place

_

This proposal does not link to the Corporate Strategy but, nevertheless, requires a decision because: