Consultation on Draft Statutory Guidance on Religious Observance in Schools – Closes 19 January 2027

The Scottish Government are seeking views on draft statutory guidance relating to religious observance (RO) in Scottish schools. The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 makes provision relating to religious observance and religious instruction in public and grant-aided schools. When the relevant provisions in the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Act 2026 (the Act) come into force, there will be a new legal requirement to consider the pupil’s views where a parent requests their withdrawal from religious observance. The Act also requires Scottish Ministers to publish statutory guidance within 12 months of these provisions coming into force.

The Scottish Government has developed this draft guidance to support schools, education authorities and managers of grant-aided schools in implementing the new requirements. It is also intended to support parents and pupils to understand the new legal requirements.

Consultation Paper – Consultation on religious observance guidance – 27 October 2026
Draft Statutory Guidance on Religious Observance in Schools – 27 October 2026

The draft guidance , once approved, will replace the 2017 non-statutory guidance on religious observance and is intended to assist education authorities and school leaders in the planning and delivery of religious observance. It covers:

 the meaning of religious observance;
 planning and delivery of religious observance;
 information for parents and pupils;
 requests for withdrawal from religious observance;
 assessing a pupil’s capacity to form a view;
 arrangements for withdrawn pupils;
 inclusive religious observance;
 denominational schools; and
 related matters.

Religious observance plays an important role in supporting pupils’ spiritual development and in expressing and celebrating the shared values of the school community. The guidance aims to provide clear and practical support for schools and education authorities to meet their statutory duties while delivering meaningful and inclusive religious observance.

The call for views is open until 19 January 2027.

CVE Scotland would encourage parents, teachers and school staff, churches and other Christian organisations to respond to the call for views, particularly with section 4 (Meaning of religious observance), section 5 (Purpose and aims of RO), section 6 (Planning and frequency of religious observance), sections 15.2 and 15.3 (Diversity and Planning for inclusive religious observance) and section 16 (Community representatives).

The link to completing your submission to the consultation on the draft guidance feedback can be found at  https://consult.gov.scot/education/7a60b791

CVE Scotland is currently reviewing this guidance document and will update this page with our views in the coming weeks. However we would also be pleased to take into consideration your views which can be emailed to our Administrator at cve@cve-scotland.org.uk using the subject heading RO Consultation January 2027.

[All blogs on our website are the personal view of the writer and do not necessarily represent a position taken by CVE Scotland]