Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help protect freedom of faith in schools.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

Religious education (RE) is a compulsory part of the basic curriculum in state schools. The government firmly believes in the importance of RE in helping to foster understanding amongst different faith and culture.

All state-funded schools must also provide a daily act of collective worship. It is for schools to tailor their provision to suit the needs of their pupils.

Faith schools, which remain an important element of our education system, have greater freedom to maintain their religious ethos. This could include teaching religious education and providing collective worship in accordance with the tenets and practices of their faith.

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from all or any part of religious education or collective worship.

All schools have specific duties to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of their pupils and to prepare them for the opportunities and responsibilities of adult life. Furthermore, schools are required to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. Ofsted inspects how schools and colleges develop their pupils' understanding of these values.