State and other schools in England will not be required to teach non-religious views on an equal footing with religion, following the issuing of revised Department of Education guidelines.
According to the Christian Institute, the review, which was prompted by a High Court ruling last November that the new Religious Education curriculum had wrongfully excluded atheism, gives backing to schools to prioritise religions and teach that England is principally a Christian country. The reason given for this by the Department of Education, is that the court ruling had been handed down on a “narrow, technical point”.
Announcing her department’s decision, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: “The guidance I have issued makes absolutely clear that the recent judicial review will have no impact on what is currently being taught in religious education.
“I am clear that both faith and non-faith schools are completely entitled to prioritise the teaching of religion and faith over non-religious world views if they wish.”
In addition to backing the continued status quo of religion over atheism in RE studies, the Department of Education guidelines state that non-denominational schools should “reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are, in the main, Christian whilst taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain”.
Minister Morgan stressed: “This government is determined to protect schools’ freedom to set their own religious studies curriculum, in line with the wishes of parents and the local community.”
