Curriculum

At Wood Green Academy, parents and carers have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of the Religious Education curriculum in accordance with Schedule 19 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. However, we encourage parents to feel assured by the inclusive and balanced nature of the religious education offered at our school. If a parent is considering withdrawal, we recommend that they arrange a meeting with the Year Leader and Head of RE  to discuss any concerns. This initial discussion will explore the potential impact of withdrawal on the child’s educational experience. We want parents to have a clear understanding of our RE syllabus, which aims to be relevant and respectful to all pupils while considering personal beliefs. Parents will be informed of the learning objectives and content covered in the RE curriculum and are welcome to discuss this further if they wish.

At Wood Green Academy, requests for withdrawal will be reviewed annually in consultation with parents. Parents should clarify whether they want their child to be withdrawn from the entire subject or only specific parts of it, and no justification is required for the request. The school will respect this right and, if RE is integrated into other subjects, will work with parents or carers to determine how best to support the child’s withdrawal. Once a child has been withdrawn from RE, they will not be able to participate in RE lessons until the withdrawal request is formally removed by the parent or carer.

Providing an Alternative to RE Lessons

We have a duty to supervise pupils who have been withdrawn from RE, but we are not required to:

• – Provide additional non-RE teaching.
• – Incur additional costs for alternative provision.

Parents or carers will not be asked to supervise their children during RE lessons. However, we can discuss alternative arrangements for providing RE that meets the preferences of the parents or carers. This is supported under section 71(3) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 for maintained schools.

This might include:

• – Offering suitable RE within our school.
• – Facilitating the pupil’s attendance at another school that offers appropriate RE, if practical.
• – Allowing the pupil to be withdrawn from school for a reasonable period to attend external RE sessions.

Trips to Places of Worship

Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from any trips that form part of the RE curriculum. If a parent or carer expresses concern about a trip, we will arrange a meeting to:

• – Explain the purpose of the trip and how it connects to the pupil’s learning.
• – Invite the parent or carer to join the trip, if feasible.
• – Outline any potential disadvantages to the pupil of not attending, such as missing the opportunity to experience a unique environment.

At Wood Green Academy, we strive to foster positive relationships among pupils from diverse cultures and backgrounds. This approach aligns with our commitment to promoting equality and inclusivity, as outlined in the Equality Act 2010.