School Standards and Framework Act 1998

Religious education E+W

69 Duty to secure due provision of religious education. E+W

(1) Subject to section 71, in relation to any community, foundation or voluntary school—

(a) the local education authority and the governing body shall exercise their functions with a view to securing, and

(b) the head teacher shall secure,

that religious education is given in accordance with the provision for such education included in the school’s basic curriculum by virtue of [F1 section 80(1)(a) or 101(1)(a) of the Education Act 2002].

(2) Schedule 19 has effect for determining the provision for religious education which is required by [F2 section 80(1)(a) or 101(1)(a)] of that Act to be included in the basic curriculum of schools within each of the following categories, namely—

(a) community schools and foundation and voluntary schools which do not have a religious character,

(b) foundation and voluntary controlled schools which have a religious character, and

(c) voluntary aided schools which have a religious character.

(3) For the purposes of this Part a foundation or voluntary school has a religious character if it is designated as a school having such a character by an order made by the Secretary of State.

(4) An order under subsection (3) shall state, in relation to each school designated by the order, the religion or religious denomination in accordance with whose tenets religious education is, or may be, required to be provided at the school in accordance with Schedule 19 (or, as the case may be, each such religion or religious denomination).

(5) The procedure to be followed in connection with—

(a) the designation of a school in an order under subsection (3), and

(b) the inclusion in such an order, in relation to a school, of the statement required by subsection (4),

shall be specified in regulations.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 69(1) substituted (1.10.2002 for E. for specified purposes, 19.12.2002 for W., 1.3.2003 for E. so far as not already in force) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), ss. 215(1), 216, Sch. 21 para. 104(2) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3, (with Sch.); S.I. 2002/3185, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 1; S.I. 2003/124, art. 2

F2 Words in s. 69(2) substituted (1.10.2002 for E. for specified purposes, 19.12.2002 for W., 1.3.2003 for E. so far as not already in force) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), ss. 215(1), 216, Sch. 21 para. 104(3) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2439, art. 3, (with Sch.); S.I. 2002/3185, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 1; S.I. 2003/124, art. 2

Commencement Information

I1 S. 69 wholly in force at 1.9.1999; s. 69 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 145(3); s. 69(2)-(5) in force at 1.10.1998 by 1998/2212, art. 2, Sch. 1, Pt. I; s. 69 in force at 1.9.1999 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (with arts. 3-5, Schs. 5-7).