§ 53. Mr. Silvesterasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he takes to monitor the observation of law relating to school assemblies by local education authorities.
§ Mr. DunnThe Education Act 1944 requires that the school day in all county and voluntary schools shall begin with collective worship on the part of all pupils, except those withdrawn by their parents; and that unless the premises are unsuitable there shall b a single act of worship attended by all pupils. In county schools the collective worship must not be distinctive of any particular religious denomination.
Local education authorities were reminded of the statutory requirements on collective worship and religious instruction in our document of guidance "The School Curriculum"; and any complaint made to the Department about the arrangemens for collective worship in a particular school is investigated.