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From Basingstoke Gazette:
MORE than three-quarters of secondary schools in Hampshire are not providing a satisfactory daily act of collective worship for their pupils, according to a recent report.
Hampshire County Council found that nearly 77 per cent of secondary school headteachers in Hampshire do not believe they satisfy the statutory requirements for a daily act of worship.
And only 56 per cent of headteachers believed that most acts of collective worship during each term are of a broadly Christian character.
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Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School, in Basingstoke, has two acts of worship every day.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of schools operate on secular lines, but there is no logistic reason why they cannot have an act of worship
Anthony Corish
Anthony Corish, headteacher, said: "I think the figures are a shame, but I'm not surprised.
"Unfortunately, the vast majority of schools operate on secular lines, but there is no logistic reason why they cannot have an act of worship.
"Our acts of worship provide pupils with an opportunity to develop their faith and their relationship with God."
Primary schools in Hampshire fared better, with more than 95 per cent of schools providing a daily act of collective worship, of which 95 per cent were of a Christian character.
A daily act of collective worship is required by the agreed syllabus for Hampshire, called Living Difference.
The Standing Committee for Religious Education (SACRE) set up an online questionnaire for all headteachers in Hampshire to complete in January this year.
The survey also found that girls are still outperforming boys at GCSE level in religious education, although the number of A* to C grades achieved by both boys and girls has decreased from last year.
Does anyone have an opinion on the role of collective worship and/or religion in 21st Century schools?
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