Written Question · S4W-29161 · Session 4
What its position is on each of the Scotland-specific recommendations made by the Arts and Humanities Research Council on Collective Worshi…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on each of the Scotland-specific recommendations made by the Arts and Humanities Research Council on Collective Worship in its report, Collective Worship and Religious Observance in Schools: An Evaluation of Law and Policy in the UK.
The answer
The Arts and Humanities Research Council published in November 2015 its report Collective Worship and Religious Observance in Schools: An Evaluation of Law and Policy in the UK. The Scotland-specific recommendations in the report are as follows:
“(a) It is recommended that Education Scotland provide clear guidance as to what constitutes religious observance and where worship is situated within that.
(b) It is recommended, in line with Section 6 of the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000, that children are consulted on the day to day running of the school as set out in the school’s development plan and that this should include consultation relating to religious observance.
(c) It is recommended that the term ‘Religious Observance’ be formally changed to ‘Time for Reflection’ in order to be more inclusive.”
In terms of advice available to schools, Education Scotland already provides clear guidance on religious observance/time for reflection which is the product of collaborative work with stakeholders – including Curriculum for Excellence Briefing Paper 16, which has been endorsed by Humanist Society Scotland. Education Scotland is working to develop exemplification of good practice in religious observance/time for reflection in different contexts. This includes the important principle that young people should be involved in the planning, delivery and evaluation of it. Schools themselves can already decide whether to refer to these experiences as religious observance or time for reflection; no legal change is required to enable this.
“(a) It is recommended that Education Scotland provide clear guidance as to what constitutes religious observance and where worship is situated within that.
(b) It is recommended, in line with Section 6 of the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000, that children are consulted on the day to day running of the school as set out in the school’s development plan and that this should include consultation relating to religious observance.
(c) It is recommended that the term ‘Religious Observance’ be formally changed to ‘Time for Reflection’ in order to be more inclusive.”
In terms of advice available to schools, Education Scotland already provides clear guidance on religious observance/time for reflection which is the product of collaborative work with stakeholders – including Curriculum for Excellence Briefing Paper 16, which has been endorsed by Humanist Society Scotland. Education Scotland is working to develop exemplification of good practice in religious observance/time for reflection in different contexts. This includes the important principle that young people should be involved in the planning, delivery and evaluation of it. Schools themselves can already decide whether to refer to these experiences as religious observance or time for reflection; no legal change is required to enable this.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-29161 by reference.