Religious Education at Our School
Religious Education (RE) plays a vital role in our curriculum from Reception through to Year 13. Our provision is designed to be inclusive, broad, and balanced. It equips pupils with a rich understanding of diverse worldviews, religions, and non-religious beliefs, fostering critical thinking, empathy, and mutual respect.
RE is taught in accordance with our locally agreed syllabus / academy curriculum framework. It is non-confessional and aims to support pupils’ Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural (SMSC) development while promoting Fundamental British Values.
The Legal Framework & Statutory Rights
Under Section 71 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, parents and carers have the statutory right to withdraw their children from all or part of Religious Education and Collective Worship.
- Reception to Year 11 (Ages 4–16): Parents/carers hold the legal right to request full or partial withdrawal of their child from RE lessons.
- Sixth Form / Post-16 (Ages 16–19): Under the Education and Skills Act 2008, pupils aged 16 and over (Year 12 and Year 13) hold the independent legal right to withdraw themselves from RE and Collective Worship without requiring parental consent.
Scope and Boundaries of the Right to Withdraw
- Parents/carers (or Post-16 students) are legally entitled to withdraw from RE without providing a reason or justification to the school.
- The right of withdrawal applies strictly to dedicated RE lessons and Collective Worship. It does not extend to other national curriculum subjects where religious topics, history, or themes may naturally arise (for example, exploring the spread of world religions in History, or studying texts with religious themes such as Harry Potter or Narnia in English Literature).
Local and National Guidance and School Procedures
The procedures we have put in place for requests for withdrawal from RE are based on guidance from the following organisations:
- The National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE)
- The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT)
- Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (BCP SACRE)
- The RE Hubs network
Submitting a Request & What Happens Next
- Immediate Granting of Requests: In accordance with standard guidance, withdrawal requests are acknowledged and granted immediately upon receipt. We ensure the process is simple, accessible, and free of unnecessary obstacles.
- We warmly invite parents to an informal, optional discussion with a member of the Leadership Team or RE Lead. This offers an opportunity to review course materials, address any misconceptions, or discuss partial options. This meeting is entirely voluntary and is not a prerequisite for withdrawal.
- Complete the form below to make a request to withdraw your child.
RE Formal RE Withdrawal & Agreement Form
Alternative Work & Supervision Parameters:
- The school provides safe supervision for withdrawn pupils during RE periods (e.g., in a designated area or sitting at the back of an alternative classroom).
- Schools are not required to provide alternative RE teaching, nor incur costs. If parents wish their child to complete alternative work, parents must provide physical, printed materials or books. The school will not print emailed materials.
- Any alternative work provided by parents must be completely independent and self-sustaining, requiring no active instruction from the supervising staff member.
- RE withdrawal time cannot be used for extra interventions or tutoring in other core subjects (e.g., extra Maths or English practice).
- Parents have the right to arrange off-site alternative religious education with an external organisation. However, this must occur strictly during the school’s timetabled RE slot so as not to disrupt other lessons, and must incur zero cost or administrative burden to the school.