Education Act 1996

Agreed syllabuses E+W

375 Agreed syllabuses of religious education [F1 : England] E+W

(1) Subject to the provisions of Schedule 31, any agreed syllabus in force immediately before the commencement of this Act shall continue to have effect.

(2) In this Act “agreed syllabus” [F2 , in relation to England,] means a syllabus of religious education—

(a) prepared before the commencement of this Act in accordance with Schedule 5 to the M1 Education Act 1944 or after commencement in accordance with Schedule 31, and

(b) adopted by a [F3 local authority] [F4 in England] under that Schedule,

whether it is for use in all the schools maintained by them or for use in particular such schools or in relation to any particular class or description of pupils in such schools.

(3) Every agreed syllabus [F5 for use in England] shall reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian whilst taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain.

(4) Any reference in this Act to an agreed syllabus adopted by a [F3 local authority] [F6 in England] includes a reference to an agreed syllabus deemed to be adopted by such an authority by virtue of paragraph 11 of Schedule 5 to the M2 Education Act 1944 or paragraph 14 of Schedule 31; and accordingly, in relation to an agreed syllabus deemed to be so adopted, any reference to the date on which an agreed syllabus was adopted is a reference to the date of deemed adoption specified by the Secretary of State in a direction under that paragraph.

(5) Subsection (3) does not apply to any agreed syllabus adopted before 29th September 1988.

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in s. 375 heading inserted (30.4.2021) by Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4), s. 84(1), Sch. 2 para. 6(2)(with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/111, regs. 1, 3)

F2 Words in s. 375(2) inserted (30.4.2021) by Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4), s. 84(1), Sch. 2 para. 6(3)(a)(with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/111, regs. 1, 3)

F3 Words in Act substituted (5.5.2010) by The Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1158), Sch. 2 para. 7(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(4)(5))

F4 Words in s. 375(2)(b) inserted (30.4.2021) by Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4), s. 84(1), Sch. 2 para. 6(3)(b)(with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/111, regs. 1, 3)

F5 Words in s. 375(3) inserted (30.4.2021) by Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4), s. 84(1), Sch. 2 para. 6(4)(with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/111, regs. 1, 3)

F6 Words in s. 375(4) inserted (30.4.2021) by Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4), s. 84(1), Sch. 2 para. 6(5)(with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/111, regs. 1, 3)

Marginal Citations

M1 1944 c. 31.

M2 1944 c. 31.

[F7 375A Agreed syllabus of Religion, Values and Ethics: Wales E+W

(1) Each local authority in Wales must adopt a syllabus of Religion, Values and Ethics for use in the schools maintained by them.

(2) The syllabus adopted by an authority may make different provision in respect of—

(a) different descriptions of school maintained by the local authority;

(b) different descriptions of pupils.

(3) The syllabus—

(a) must reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Wales are in the main Christian while taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Wales;

(b) must also reflect the fact that a range of non-religious philosophical convictions are held in Wales.

(4) In subsection (3), the reference to philosophical convictions is to philosophical convictions within the meaning of Article 2 of the First Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights.

(5) Schedule 31 makes further provision in relation to a syllabus of Religion, Values and Ethics.

(6) In this section—

• “the European Convention on Human Rights” means the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, agreed by the Council of Europe at Rome on 4th November 1950, as it has effect for the time being in relation to the United Kingdom;

• “the First Protocol”, in relation to that Convention, means the protocol to the Convention agreed at Paris on 20th March 1952.

(7) References in this Act to an agreed syllabus, in relation to Wales, are to a syllabus adopted under this section, or deemed to be adopted under this section by virtue of paragraph 14(2) of Schedule 31; and accordingly in relation to a syllabus deemed to have been so adopted, any reference to the date on which an agreed syllabus was adopted is a reference to the date of deemed adoption specified by the Welsh Ministers in a direction under that paragraph.

(8) In exercising functions under this section, a local authority must have regard to any guidance given by the Welsh Ministers.]

Textual Amendments

F7 S. 375A inserted (30.4.2021) by Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 4), s. 84(1), Sch. 2 para. 7 (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2022/111, regs. 1, 3)