Sheffield Head quits in Muslim assembly row
STEVO | 10.02.2009 13:47 | Analysis | Anti-racism | Social Struggles | Sheffield
A Sheffield head teacher has resigned after parents complained about her plans to scrap separate assemblies for Muslim pupils
Julia Robinson had wanted to hold one assembly for pupils of all faiths at Meersbrook Bank Primary School.
Her replacement said the school did now hold one "daily act of worship in keeping with legal requirements".
Sheffield City Council claimed Mrs Robinson resigned for "personal reasons" not connected to the row.
Council leader Paul Scriven said the school had acted with the "best interests of all its pupils in mind".
He told BBC News: "The head teacher has not been forced to step down.
"The head teacher resigned for personal issues and she's made it very clear it's not related to this particular incident.
"And I think it's time for us now to concentrate on dealing with the issue at hand and let the school and the parents come together so that the children in that school can deal with the issue and get the best possible education for them in the future."
Mr Scriven said the school was working closely with parents to "foster strong relationships".
He said: "The school acted with the best interests of all its pupils in mind but it is clear that this has caused misunderstanding and anxiety for some parents.
The school's new head teacher, Pamela Smith said: "Meersbrook Bank is a school that has pupils from a range of faiths and backgrounds.
"We recognise that pupils have different needs and we, along with our local community, endeavour to reflect this in our assembly provision.
"The school has done a lot of hard work to develop good community relations and we are committed to reviewing how we can meet all pupils' needs within school by working with parents and governors as well as the young people themselves.
The legal requirements for schools to hold a "daily act of worship" vary around the UK.
In an English community school like Meersbrook, the requirement is for "a single act of worship for all pupils or separate acts of worship for pupils in different age groups or in different school groups" - meaning the sort of groups in which they are normally taught, not religious groups.
Most acts of worship have to be "wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character" though others can reflect pupils' family backgrounds.
This basic requirement was established in the 1944 Education Act and has been re-enacted in more recent legislation relating to schools.
Parents have the right to withdraw their children from collective worship.
The statutory requirement can be lifted by a legal decision, known as a determination, by the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education.
The Muslim Council of Britain proposes that in schools where most of the pupils have an Islamic faith background, the school should seek the power to implement more appropriate arrangements.
Part determinations can allow for Muslim, Christian and Sikh pupils to have separate acts of collective worship.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7880690.stm
Her replacement said the school did now hold one "daily act of worship in keeping with legal requirements".
Sheffield City Council claimed Mrs Robinson resigned for "personal reasons" not connected to the row.
Council leader Paul Scriven said the school had acted with the "best interests of all its pupils in mind".
He told BBC News: "The head teacher has not been forced to step down.
"The head teacher resigned for personal issues and she's made it very clear it's not related to this particular incident.
"And I think it's time for us now to concentrate on dealing with the issue at hand and let the school and the parents come together so that the children in that school can deal with the issue and get the best possible education for them in the future."
Mr Scriven said the school was working closely with parents to "foster strong relationships".
He said: "The school acted with the best interests of all its pupils in mind but it is clear that this has caused misunderstanding and anxiety for some parents.
The school's new head teacher, Pamela Smith said: "Meersbrook Bank is a school that has pupils from a range of faiths and backgrounds.
"We recognise that pupils have different needs and we, along with our local community, endeavour to reflect this in our assembly provision.
"The school has done a lot of hard work to develop good community relations and we are committed to reviewing how we can meet all pupils' needs within school by working with parents and governors as well as the young people themselves.
The legal requirements for schools to hold a "daily act of worship" vary around the UK.
In an English community school like Meersbrook, the requirement is for "a single act of worship for all pupils or separate acts of worship for pupils in different age groups or in different school groups" - meaning the sort of groups in which they are normally taught, not religious groups.
Most acts of worship have to be "wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character" though others can reflect pupils' family backgrounds.
This basic requirement was established in the 1944 Education Act and has been re-enacted in more recent legislation relating to schools.
Parents have the right to withdraw their children from collective worship.
The statutory requirement can be lifted by a legal decision, known as a determination, by the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education.
The Muslim Council of Britain proposes that in schools where most of the pupils have an Islamic faith background, the school should seek the power to implement more appropriate arrangements.
Part determinations can allow for Muslim, Christian and Sikh pupils to have separate acts of collective worship.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7880690.stm
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