Educational Perspectives on School Collective Worship: Beyond Obituary

Much has changed in education in all parts of the United Kingdom over the period since the post-war education acts of the 1940s prescribed ‘a daily act of collective worship’ in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. While Religious Education in most of the UK has changed significantly in response to a much more diverse and plural society, collective worship/religious observance now appears to many people, including educational professionals, to be anachronistic. This chapter will analyse this changed situation and review some of the discussions and proposals from religious, educational, secular and political perspectives. While three main approaches seem to be evident in the current debate – maintaining the status quo, reform, abolishing the requirement – some attention will be given to the view that a modified activity might focus on ‘spiritual development’ and inclusive ‘shared values’.