Consultation Paper: Proposals to amend the legislation on religious observance and religious education in schools to support alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Consultation Questions

1. What are your views on the proposed changes, including in terms of practicality for schools and ease of implementation?

2. What do you anticipate being the main positive and negative implications of these changes, including for schools, pupils, parents and any financial implications? How might any negative implications best be addressed?

3. What insights or experiences do you have regarding how the right to withdraw from religious observance and RME/RE currently works in schools, including how schools communicate with parents, the pupil’s voice and the practical application of the withdrawal process?

4. Do you think the proposed changes offer a reasonable way forward at this time to address questions about UNCRC compliance?

5. What mechanisms do you think would be most effective for ensuring that schools and parents give due weight to pupils’ views when considering withdrawal from religious observance or RME/RE?

6. As part of our work to bring forward amendments to legislation, we will finalise a Children's Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment, and an Equality Impact Assessment. To help inform this work, we would welcome your views on the impact of our proposals on children's rights and equalities, as well as any related evidence/research you may be aware of.

What will happen after the consultation closing date

10. After the closing date for this consultation, the Scottish Government will analyse responses and will develop an analysis report which will be published on the Scottish Government website. The government will consider the range of views provided via the consultation as we finalise the draft legislation which will then be brought forward to the Scottish Parliament in due course.