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The Report of the Religious Observance Review Group
one: introduction
Why a review group?
The HMIE report, Standards and Quality in Secondary Schools: Religious and Moral Education 1995-2000, though concerned primarily with religious and moral education, contained a special note on religious observance. The note identified HM Inspectors' concerns that many non-denominational secondary schools were failing to provide time for religious observance as outlined in the guidance issued in Provision of religious education and religious observance in primary and secondary schools, SOED Circular 6/91.
HM Inspectors felt that primary schools were generally following the guidance set out in SOED Circular 6/91. In the case of non-denominational secondary schools, HM Inspectors did not believe that schools were being deliberately negligent, rather that head teachers were finding difficulty in taking account of the guidance contained in the Circular and of the intentions of legislation dating back to 1872, in ways which were meaningful in the social, cultural and educational context of today. In fact the Foreword to the HMIE report raised the question of the continuing appropriateness of current advice on religious observance.
Following the publication of the HMIE report, the then Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs, Jack McConnell, established a group to review the provision of religious observance in all schools, to consider the current guidance on arrangements for religious observance and to make recommendations for the future.
Mr McConnell asked Anne Wilson, Director of Education at Dundee City Council, to chair the review group which was made up of representatives from education and religious organisations and parent groups. The following remit was agreed:
'To review current guidance on arrangements for religious observance in schools taking account of the views of interested bodies and individuals including religious organisations, teachers, parents and pupils; to make recommendations to Ministers on any changes which are required to ensure that revised guidance to schools is relevant and appropriate for pupils, that it fulfils the requirements of the 1980 Act and also provides practical advice on religious observance.'
The remit states very clearly that the review should take account of the views of interested bodies and individuals. The review group, conscious of the range of views on the subject of religious observance and the strength of feeling which the subject can engender, adopted procedures to ensure that the consultation process was as wide and thorough as possible. These procedures are outlined in the section on the consultative process.
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