AQW 36303/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 26/11/2025
Answered On Date: 12/12/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail whether he has any plans to review either (i) The Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986; or (ii) The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, to assess the extent to which they enable (a) religious education; and (b) collective worship, to be delivered in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment in the matter of an application by JR87 and another for Judicial Review (Appellant).

Answer:

The Supreme Court’s decision in the matter of JR87 and another has significant implications for our schools. I will consider the judgment in full before determining any essential remedies that both respect the law and safeguard the role of religion in education. This is a complex ruling and I have requested further legal advice to understand the full implications of the judgment and the next steps.