Tell pupils that Britain is Christian, schools are told as Education Secretary vows not to force teachers to spend time on atheism

[EC]

Pupils at mainstream schools will continue to be taught that Britain is a Christian country, the Education Secretary has said.

They will be told ‘the religious traditions of Great Britain are, in the main, Christian’, but teachers will also acknowledge the teachings and practices of other religions.

And schools will not have to include atheism in GCSE religious studies lessons under guidelines released today.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has told schools that they do not have to give ‘non-religious world views’ equal billing with the major faiths as demanded by campaigners. Last month the High Court ruled it was unlawful to omit non-religious views such as atheism and humanism from lessons for 14 to 16-year-olds after a challenge supported by the British Humanist Association.

The Education Secretary has now responded with guidance described by her officials as ‘robust’.

It states: ‘There is no obligation to give equal air time to the teaching of religious and non-religious views.’

Mrs Morgan said she is ‘determined to protect schools’ freedom to set their own religious studies curriculum, in line with the wishes of parents and the local community’.

A source close to her said: ‘Nicky has had enough of campaign groups using the courts to try to force the teaching of atheism and humanism against parents’ wishes. That’s why she’s taking a stand to protect the right of schools to prioritise the teaching of major religions.’

Changes to the Religious Studies GCSE content were announced in February and will start next September. Pupils will learn about Buddhism, Christianity, Catholic Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. Critics, including former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams, complained that non-religious views should also be explored in class.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3375763/Schools-WON-T-teach-atheism-Education-Secretary-vows-not-humanist-campaign-groups.html

A little background, to bring you all up to speed quickly. When the National Curriculum was introduced in 1989, Religious Education of at least two hours per week was made compulsory for all students aged 11 to 16. Of course, to fit that in, they downgraded the science requirement .... 
As you can tell, I wasn't impressed at the time and still am not.