Under the Human Rights Act, schools are required to respect the right of parents to ensure that education and teaching is in line with parents’ own religious, moral and philosophical beliefs.
In general, this means that schools should provide a broadly balanced curriculum, which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils as well as society, and which prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experience of adult life.
This must include religious education and sex education, but:
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religious education must not involve any kind of indoctrination
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parents can request that their child is excused from religious worship or instruction, and from religious assemblies, and
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sex education must reflect the value of family life and moral considerations. Any sex education provided should be appropriate to the age, religious and cultural background of the pupils.
Schools should also make sure that pupils are not discriminated against on the grounds of their own religion or belief. Part 2 of the Equality Act 2006 prohibits discrimination against pupils on grounds of their religion or belief, or lack of religion or belief. There are exceptions, for example when a school admits pupils who belong, or whose parents belong, to a particular religious denomination.
You can find out more about Part 2 of the Equality Act by downloading guidance published by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Find out more about the human rights to freedom of thought and religion and freedom of expression.