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Requests to withdraw a pupil from RE

Parents and carers can choose to withdraw their child from religious education (RE) lessons. Find out what you're required to do if this happens, and how this may affect school trips to places of worship.

Last reviewed on 17 May 2024See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 30664
Contents
  1. Parents/carers have a right to withdraw their child from RE
  2. Providing an alternative to RE lessons
  3. Trips to places of worship
  4. Withdrawing pupils from other subjects

Parents/carers have a right to withdraw their child from RE

You must grant requests from parents/carers to withdraw their child, wholly or partly, from:

  • Receiving religious education (RE) given in the school in accordance with the school’s basic curriculum
  • Attendance at religious worship in the school (note: sixth-form pupils can choose for themselves to opt out of religious worship)

This is set out in section 71(1) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This section of the Act also applies to academies, as stated in the DfE's model funding agreements:

  • Mainstream: supplemental funding agreement (paragraph 2.V on page 16)
  • Mainstream: single funding agreement (paragraph 2.49 on page 25)

Academies: check your own funding agreement in case it differs from the models.

Parents/carers don’t have to give a reason

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