Withdrawal from Religious Education at Fulwood Academy

Parents and carers have the legal right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education (RE). We encourage families considering withdrawal to contact the Academy so that we can discuss the RE curriculum, answer any questions and ensure that the arrangements are clear.

What is the process?

1. Contact the Academy
Parents/carers should submit their request to withdraw their child from RE in writing addressed to the Principal, confirming whether they wish their child to be withdrawn from all RE lessons or only specific aspects of the curriculum.

2. Meet with the Academy
Parents/carers will be offered the opportunity to meet with a member of staff to discuss the request. This provides an opportunity to look at what is taught within our RE curriculum and discuss any questions or concerns. Parents/carers are not required to justify their decision to withdraw.

3. Provide alternative RE work
Where a pupil is withdrawn, parents/carers will be responsible for providing suitable alternative Religious Education work for their child to complete during their timetabled RE lessons.

Alternative work should be educational, age-appropriate and related to the study of religion, belief or non-religious worldviews. For example, this could include:

• studying a religious or non-religious worldview chosen by the family;
• researching beliefs, values, practices or traditions;
• studying religious or philosophical texts;
• exploring ethical or philosophical questions from a particular worldview;
• completing reading, research or written activities linked to religion and belief.

The alternative work should be provided in advance so that the pupil has sufficient work for each RE lesson. This should total 3 hours of learning per fortnight. 

4. Arrangements during RE lessons
Withdrawn pupils will report to their RE teacher at the beginning of each timetabled RE lesson before going to the IMPACT room, complete the alternative work provided by their parent/carer under appropriate supervision.

At the end of the lesson, the pupil will return to their RE teacher and show the work they have completed. This allows us to maintain appropriate attendance, safeguarding and supervision arrangements and to ensure that lesson time has been used productively.

5. Returning to RE
Parents/carers can contact the Academy at any time if they wish to change the arrangements or for their child to resume participation in RE.

 

 

PARENTS’ RIGHT TO WITHDRAW RSHE

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from the non-science components of sex education within RSE up to and until 3 terms before the child turns 16. After this point, if the child wishes to receive sex education rather than being withdrawn, Fulwood Academy will arrange this.

Requests for withdrawal should be put in writing and addressed to the Principal.

A copy of withdrawal requests will be placed in the pupil’s educational record. The Headteacher will discuss the request with parents. The pupil will be excused from the sex education component until the request is withdrawn, unless or to the extent that the Headteacher considers that the pupil should not be so excused.

Alternative school work will be given to pupils who are withdrawn from sex education.