Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-12-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has issued to schools on meetings for prayer or religious instruction for pupils during break times.
Edward Timpson
Collective worship plays an important role in schools. It encourages children to reflect on belief, and helps shape fundamental British values of tolerance, respect and understanding for others. Parents can choose to withdraw their children from all or any part of collective worship.
The Department does not issue guidance to schools specifically on the provision of meetings for prayer or religious instruction for pupils during break times.
The Department does publish guidance on collective worship; it is for governing bodies to decide how best to meet the requirements of that guidance and the relevant legislation, which can be found online at GOV.UK:
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