Parents to take government to court over religious studies reforms

The reformed RS GCSE is due to be taught in schools from September 2016, and will require pupils to study two religions in depth, but does not allow in depth study of a non-religious world view. The parents lunching the challenge argue that the GCSE will sideline humanism and give pupils the impression that religion has a ‘monopoly on truth and morality’.

The parents, who are supported by the British Humanist Association (BHA), believe that non-religious world-views should be taught on an equal footing with the seven faiths included in the curriculum, as to exclude non-religious views is in conflict with the government’s obligation to promote freedom of religion and belief.

Kate Bielby, one of the three parents leading the action, said: “I completely recognise the importance of children learning about the different religions, especially in our increasingly diverse society.

“What I object to is the lack of parity between religious beliefs and non-religious world views in the school curriculum, which in the eyes of children may well lead to the belief that religion, in whatever form, has a monopoly on truth and on morality.”

She added: “This is not accurate, it reflects neither the views of the population nor the traditions of the country, and we shouldn’t be encouraging our children to believe it.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: “The reformed GCSE in religious studies is designed to increase pupils’ knowledge of other faiths by ensuring all students study the beliefs, teachings and sources of wisdom of at least two religions for the first half of their GCSE. It is entirely a matter for schools to decide what second religion their pupils study.”

The BHA’s chief executive, Andrew Copson, said: “The law is clear that when teaching about religions and beliefs, schools should follow a broad and balanced syllabus which includes both religious and non-religious world views like humanism on an equal footing.

“The religious studies GCSE is therefore incompatible with the rights of non-religious parents and the entitlement of young people to an education that does not indoctrinate them, even by omission. It amounts to a breach of the government’s obligations and that is what we are seeking the court to affirm, in line with overwhelming public and professional opinion.”

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