Right of Withdrawal
The above document highlights the following;
- What the law states
- How should a parent make the request?
- Can the headteacher ask the parent to reconsider?
- Can a parent withdraw their child (ren) from particular parts of RE rather than from the subject as a whole?
- Can children be withdrawn from other subjects when there is an element of religion in the programme?
NATRE Guidance on Withdrawal from RE
The above NATRE guidance document provides guidance and support for head teachers, senior leaders and teachers of RE to manage the right of withdrawal in their school. Surveys and anecdotes suggest that more parents are exercising their right to withdraw their child from some or all of RE. In the 2018 NATRE primary survey, almost 16 per cent of the schools surveyed said they had some parents using the right of withdrawal.
Whilst withdrawing their children remains a right for parents, the law was not designed to be used in the way it is being used by some. This guide, produced
by NATRE, clarifies the law and offers suggestions for dealing with specific withdrawal scenarios. For more information on RE in schools, go to www.natre.org.uk/about-re