Nursery World - Ask the expert (17)

Your legal questions answered by Christine Betts, senior lawyer, schools and childcare team, Veale Wasbrough Lawyers Q Several families have chosen to send their children to the non-denominational primary school where I teach, because they are not believers and prefer their children to learn about all religions equally but follow none themselves. However, some parents object to the head teacher playing Christian hymns at every assembly and leading 'quiet thoughts' which begin with 'Dear Lord' and end with the children repeating 'Amen'. They have told their children just to sit quietly through these, but some of the staff members tell the children that they must sing and say these words. Some staff insist that they are following guidelines in offering a broadly Christian education, although it is not a C of E school.

Q Several families have chosen to send their children to the non-denominational primary school where I teach, because they are not believers and prefer their children to learn about all religions equally but follow none themselves. However, some parents object to the head teacher playing Christian hymns at every assembly and leading 'quiet thoughts' which begin with 'Dear Lord' and end with the children repeating 'Amen'. They have told their children just to sit quietly through these, but some of the staff members tell the children that they must sing and say these words. Some staff insist that they are following guidelines in offering a broadly Christian education, although it is not a C of E school.

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