Parents' Right to Withdraw Children from Religious Education (RE)

At Archbishop Courtenay primary school, we respect and value the diverse beliefs of all our families. We aim to provide a nurturing environment where every pupil can explore and understand a broad range of spiritual and cultural perspectives, in line with our vision of compassion, respect, and aspiration.

Understanding Your Rights

Under the Education Act 1996, parents have the legal right to withdraw their child from all or part of the Religious Education (RE) curriculum and collective worship if they wish. This right is respected by our school, and we encourage parents to discuss any concerns or questions they may have with us.

How to Request Withdrawal

If you choose to withdraw your child from RE lessons or collective worship, please contact the Headteacher in writing. We ask that you specify whether you wish to withdraw your child from all RE lessons, certain parts of the curriculum, or collective worship.

What Happens After Withdrawal?

• Pupils withdrawn from RE will be supervised. However, we ask parents to provide alternative educational activities during RE lessons.
• We encourage open communication to ensure your child’s educational experience remains positive and supportive.
• We welcome discussions to explore how we can best support your child's learning and spiritual development within their family's beliefs.

Our Commitment

Our RE curriculum is designed to foster understanding, respect, and spiritual growth for all pupils, reflecting the values of compassion, friendship, resilience, respect, and aspiration. We aim to prepare pupils to thrive in a diverse society, guided by the teachings and example of Jesus, as expressed in our school vision.

If you would like to discuss this further or need more information about the RE curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact the school office or the Headteacher directly.