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High Court Judges Back Humanists Over GCSE

High Court Judges Back Humanists Over GCSE

The High Court has ruled against the Education Secretary after she left "non-religious world views" out of a new religious studies GCSE.

Three families, backed by the British Humanist Association, had brought the case against Nicky Morgan, arguing she had taken a "skewed" approach to the subject.

The families said Ms Morgan's new GCSE did not reflect the pluralistic nature of the UK.

Mr Justice Warby agreed to allow a judicial review into the matter ruling there had been "a breach of the duty to take care that information or knowledge included in the curriculum is conveyed in a pluralistic manner".

Kate Bielby, mother of Daisy and one of the people who wanted a review, said before the hearing: "I completely recognise the importance of children learning about the different religions, especially in our increasingly diverse society.

"What I object to is the lack of parity between religious beliefs and non-religious world views in the school curriculum, which in the eyes of children may well lead to the belief that religion, in whatever form, has a monopoly on truth and on morality."

She added: "This is not accurate, it reflects neither the views of the population nor the traditions of the country, and we shouldn't be encouraging our children to believe it."

BHA chief executive Andrew Copson said: "The law is clear that when teaching about religions and beliefs, schools should follow a broad and balanced syllabus which includes both religious and non-religious world views like humanism on an equal footing.

"The religious studies GCSE is therefore incompatible with the rights of non-religious parents and the entitlement of young people to an education that does not indoctrinate them, even by omission."

Changes to the content of the religious studies GCSE were announced last February.

Since then, there have been complaints that it gives priority to different religions, particularly Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams was one of 28 religious leaders who had urged the Government to include humanism in the new syllabus.