Education and Inspections Act 2006

Commentary

Part 3: Further Provisions about Maintained Schools

Section 55: Right of sixth-form pupils to be excused from attendance at religious worship

252.Section 55 amends section 71 of the 1998 Act.

253.Subsection (2) substitutes a new subsection (1) of section 71 to provide for a sixth-form pupil attending a maintained school to be able to withdraw himself from collective worship. In the case of a non sixth form pupil, a parent may request that the pupil be excused. The subsection re-enacts the right of a parent to request that a pupil be excused from receiving religious education.

254.Subsection (6) inserts a new subsection (5A) of section 71 to place a duty on governing bodies of maintained boarding schools to make arrangements for giving pupils a reasonable opportunity to attend religious education or worship in accordance with the tenets of a particular religion. In the case of a sixth form pupil, the duty arises where the pupil makes such a request. In the case of a non sixth form pupil, the duty arises where a parent makes a request.

255.Subsection (8) substitutes a new subsection (7) of section 71 to provide for arrangements to be made in regulations allowing a sixth form pupil attending a maintained special school to withdraw from collective worship.

256.Subsection (9) inserts a definition of “sixth form pupil”, at new section 71(8).