AQW 31696/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 22/09/2025
Answered On Date: 26/09/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any actions he has taken on recommendations contained with the Independent Review of Education on (i) religious education; and (ii) collective worship in schools.

Answer:

My department is awaiting the outcome of the ongoing judicial review on the nature of Religious Education and collective worship in state-funded schools to inform a review of the core syllabus for Religious Education. Currently, it will not form part of the Taskforce’s work.

My department will then initiate a review, which will involve a wide range of key stakeholders including the four main churches in Northern Ireland.

This will also provide an opportunity to address the recommendation made in the Independent Review regarding the review of the RE syllabus. The Independent Review made no recommendations relating to collective worship in schools.