Statement from REC Chair on Collective Worship

The Religious Education Council (REC) of England and Wales believes collective worship has played an important role in schools, following the requirements set out in 1944 (and amended in 1988). The requirements for collective worship as a school activity are both different and distinct from the requirements regarding RE in the curriculum. 

The REC is aware that the requirements for collective worship are not now being followed in all schools, especially secondary schools, for a variety of reasons, including lack of suitable spaces and/or leaders for collective worship. This has been reported regularly by Ofsted over the years. However, this does not mean that schools have not provided opportunities for the spiritual and moral development of young people, many good examples of which Ofsted have also reported.

In 1998 the REC conducted, with others, a review of collective worship. The findings were reported to the government of the day, but no action followed either in terms of a governmental review or the provision of new guidance, training and resources. With an apparent lack of government interest in this area, the REC has focussed its attention over the past ten years or so on the curriculum subject of RE, which, until this year, has shown signs of improvement in many but not all areas of the country. The REC believes that, now, RE itself is in danger of government neglect.

The REC has plans to debate the issues around collective worship again in the near future, and hopes to be able to be in a position to discuss these with the government and others as appropriate.

6 September 2011