Religious Education

Withdrawing a Child from Religious Education (RE) – UK Law

At NSABA, we believe that every educational setting should promote open enquiry and critical thinking, rather than impose belief or restrict thought. Asking questions about how others live is a natural and essential part of learning. By exploring diverse cultures, faiths, and histories, young people gain empathy and a deeper understanding of the wider world.

A high-quality religious education should provide balance, avoiding the dominance of any single faith and instead offering pupils the opportunity to learn about a broad range of traditions. Most schools follow a locally agreed syllabus or adopt a structured R.E. programme, the contents of which, under school information regulations, must be published on the school’s website.

Despite this, many parents still encounter R.E. curricula that lack equal treatment of minority faiths. We affirm that students must have the freedom to follow their own faith, or none at all, without coercion, pressure, or undue influence. While some schools achieve this balance well, others fall short. Parents who are dissatisfied with the R.E. curriculum retain the clear right under UK law to withdraw their child from the subject, in whole or in part.

This right is particularly valuable where vulnerable pupils may lack the maturity or confidence to resist religious teaching that is unsuitable. It is for parents to decide what suitable is. In such cases, withdrawal can be the most appropriate option, especially for families who prefer that time be reallocated to other learning. If a child is withdrawn from R.E. lessons at school, the school is legally required to supervise them during that time, but it does not have to provide separate learning or alternative teaching. Parents are encouraged to support their child’s learning during withdrawn periods by providing resources such as educational websites or reading books to ensure continued engagement and development.One parent we supported, for example, chose to have their child access critical thinking activities online during R.E. lessons - an approach they felt would better prepare their child for the future.

Thinking About Withdrawing Your Child from R.E.
If you're considering whether to withdraw your child from R.E., here are some key facts to support your decision:

Your Legal Right

Parents have the legal right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education.
This right is protected under Section 71 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.
You do not have to give a reason for the withdrawal.
While schools may offer to discuss your decision, they cannot refuse or challenge your request.

What Schools Must Do

Schools are legally required to comply with withdrawal requests from parents, however students aged 16 or over have the right to decide for themselves whether to take part in R.E.
Schools must also ensure that your child is supervised during the time they are not in R.E. lessons, though they are not required to provide alternative lessons or teaching during this time.
Schools are required to publish their R.E. curriculum, including the topics and themes taught. This information must be available on the school website or provided upon request — no Freedom of Information request is needed. Reviewing the curriculum can help you make an informed decision about whether to withdraw your child from specific content or the subject as a whole.
You can choose to withdraw your child from some or all particular aspects of R.E. - such as teaching of specific religions, practices, or themes, rather than the entire subject. Simply write to the school stating which parts you wish to opt out of.

A letter to enquire about the R.E. curriculum can be found by clicking here.

A letter to email to school confirming withdrawal from R.E. can be found by clicking here.