Collective worship (FOI)

​Request

I am undertaking some research into determinations on Collective Worship. Circular 1/94 contains the current Collective Worship guidance for SACREs and schools. http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/dfe/circular1-94.pdf

Paragraph 74 states that "It is for each SACRE to decide how applications should be made, and to make available any necessary guidance to schools."

I would be grateful if you could respond to the following three questions.

A
At the time of receiving this enquiry does your SACRE have a procedure in place for determining school applications to lift or modify the requirement for collective worship of a broadly Christian nature?
Yes / No

B
If your SACRE does have a determination procedure in place is it freely accessible (e.g. online or contained within school guidance ) or by request only?
Freely accessible / by request only

C
If you do have a determination procedure in place please attach it and any accompanying guidance to your reply.

Response

A determination procedure does not exist in Jersey, however the Education (Jersey) Law 1999 (as amended) part 4, paragraph 20, provides for the parental right to withdraw their child from religious education and acts of worship which is managed on an individual basis.

Education (Jersey) Law 1999

20. Right of parent to withdraw pupil from religious education and acts of worship:

(1) A parent of a pupil in a provided school may, on giving notice to the head teacher of the school, withdraw the pupil, either wholly or in part, from religious education or from acts of worship, or both.

(2) Where a head teacher receives notice under paragraph (1), the head teacher shall provide supervision of the pupil during the periods when the pupil would otherwise receive religious education or attend an act of worship.