COLLECTIVE WORSHIP

Early day motion 395, tabled 5 July 2010 by Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 31 members.

That this House notes the Government's wish to free schools from prescriptive legal regimes; further notes the fact that the law still requires maintained schools to hold a daily act of collective worship wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character and that teachers and others have repeatedly opposed this provision; further notes the diversity of society and rights to freedom of conscience, thought and belief as protected in domestic law; at the same time notes the educational value of inclusive school assemblies and their role in supporting shared values and the school community and ethos; and calls on the Government to repeal the requirement for compulsory worship in schools and to encourage schools to hold educational assemblies that will include all children.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Liberal Democrat 9, Green 1.