PRESS RELEASE – For immediate release

14 August 2006

Collective Worship and RE lessons: “Part of the Package” for Sixth Form Students

When you choose a religious school, Collective Worship and RE Lessons are “part of the package”, says The Catholic Education Service.  Both play an integral role in the life of every school and Sixth-Form College and contribute to the spiritual well-being and moral development of every student.

This statement comes in response to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights report that pupils aged 16 and over should be able to opt out of RE lessons.  Earlier last month, it was agreed by the House of Lords that the Education and Inspections Bill should be amended to allow pupils aged 16 and over to opt out of Collective Worship.

“Pupil and parental choices should always be taken into account”, says Chief Executive and Director of the CES, Oona Stannard. “If a student chooses a Catholic school or College for their post-GCSE studies, it is important that they recognise that the prayer life of the school is an essential part of the package. Collective Worship and RE lessons are integral to the ethos and success of every Catholic School and College; without them you would be talking about a very different place – a community in which students and parents would be less inclined to take part.”

“Prayer, reflection and contemplation,” continues Oona, “provide the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of modern day living.  They also help to guide people in their decisions, of particular relevance to those of sixth form age who are faced with many complex choices as they seek to discern the direction of their lives and to better understand the world around them. Coercion is not what we’re about, but Collective Worship and RE Lessons have a very important role to play in the life of every Catholic School and Sixth Form College.

ENDS

For more information please contact Laura McCann, Policy and Briefing Officer: t: 0207 901 4854 e: lmccann@cesew.org.uk, w. www.cesew.org.uk.

Notes to editors:

• At present all maintained schools must " provide daily collective worship for all registered pupils (apart from those who have been withdrawn by their parents)" (www.teachernet.gov.uk)
• The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights is a cross-party group of 12 MPs and peers, which considers human rights issues in the UK.  This latest report forms part of the legislative scrutiny it has undertaken in relation to the Education and Inspections Bill (2006).  For more information:  www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/joint_committee_on_human_rights.cfm.