Education (Assemblies) Bill [HL]

Key Points

• Repeals the duty on non-designated-faith state schools to hold collective worship; instead, assemblies would be allowed in line with determinations for multifaith/other-faith/no-faith.
• Guidance already exists on how schools can seek such determinations; there is no statutory right of appeal against an unsuccessful determination; schools can reapply with better information.
• Parents and sixth-form pupils retain the right to withdraw from collective worship; any breaches would be investigated only after a local complaint has been exhausted.
• The bill originated in the Lords, advanced through several Lords stages in 2021, and has moved to the Commons, where it reached the second reading in May 2022; further Commons stages would be needed for it to become law.
• Official documents include explanatory notes and a government response clarifying the determinations framework to govern assemblies in schools.

Progress

The bill began in the Lords and completed multiple readings there in 2021. It has since moved to the Commons and, as of May 2022, is at the Second Reading in the Commons, with further stages still required before it could become law.