Religious Education

HC Deb 14 March 1978 vol 946 cc123-4W

20. Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied that the objectives for religious education set out by the Minister of State in his speech of 23 rd February are being achieved in local authority schools.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

The pattern of religious education depends on the agreed syllabuses and experience of individual teachers, but I am broadly satisfied that all those concerned in schools are seeking to achieve such objectives. Nevertheless, some concern has been expressed about arrangements for religious education in schools. That is why I included questions on this subject in Circular 14/77.

24. Mr. Sims

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now set up an inquiry into the state of religious education in schools.

Mr. Oakes

No. We have already asked local education authorities for information about religious education as part of the review of curricular arrangements initiated by Circular 14/77.