Background

History

In 'Standards and Quality in Secondary Schools: Religious and Moral Education 1995-2000', the HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) expressed concern that the guidance of Circular 6/91 on the provision of religious observance in Scottish schools was not being fully implemented.

As a result, the Religious Observance Review Group was set up in November 2001. The Review Group, chaired by Anne Wilson, Director of Education in Dundee, consulted widely over the next three years. They received 1473 submissions from Scottish people, met with members of the public and faith communities and deliberated the issues. In May 2004 the Review Group produced the Report of the Religious Observance Review Group.

Towards a definition

The central core of the report is that religious observance has been redefined.

• It is now not about religion, but about spirituality.
• It is not just about observance but also participation.    

The term religious observance, although widely criticised during and since the consultation period, has been retained for statutory reasons.

The report defines religious observance in Scottish schools as:

'community acts which aim to promote the spiritual development of all members of the school community and express and celebrate the shared values of the school community'.

It is understood that the term 'spiritual' applies to all and applies to 'something fundamental in the human condition ... it has to do with their unique search for human identity'.

The report also considered issues of resources, location, worship, faith groups and parental rights.

The Circular 1/2005

In February 2005, Circular 1/2005 was issued. The circular accepted the Review Group's report. The circular also drew attention to both the Christian heritage of Scotland and the cultural and religious diversity of 21st-century Scotland. Religious observance, in enabling individual spiritual development, is required to be sensitive to both of these realities.

Circular 1/2005 invited local authorities and schools to review policy and practice and introduce changes in line with the circular.

Towards the future

In May 2005, Learning and Teaching Scotland appointed a development officer to develop and source resources, develop evaluative tools, and support schools and local authorities in this process. The website is part of this provision.

The Review Group report has introduced a radical and forward-thinking approach to religious observance in Scottish schools. The issues raised here require careful consideration and appreciation, but also allow creative possibilities in enabling all members of the school community to become confident individuals, effective contributors, responsible citizens and successful learners.