Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021

Education Act 1996 (c. 56)

7 After section 375 insert—

“375A Agreed syllabus of Religion, Values and Ethics: Wales

(1) Each local authority in Wales must adopt a syllabus of Religion, Values and Ethics for use in the schools maintained by them.

(2) The syllabus adopted by an authority may make different provision in respect of—

(a) different descriptions of school maintained by the local authority;

(b) different descriptions of pupils.

(3) The syllabus—

(a) must reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Wales are in the main Christian while taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Wales;

(b) must also reflect the fact that a range of non-religious philosophical convictions are held in Wales.

(4) In subsection (3), the reference to philosophical convictions is to philosophical convictions within the meaning of Article 2 of the First Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights.

(5) Schedule 31 makes further provision in relation to a syllabus of Religion, Values and Ethics.

(6) In this section—

• “the European Convention on Human Rights” means the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, agreed by the Council of Europe at Rome on 4th November 1950, as it has effect for the time being in relation to the United Kingdom;

• “the First Protocol”, in relation to that Convention, means the protocol to the Convention agreed at Paris on 20th March 1952.

(7) References in this Act to an agreed syllabus, in relation to Wales, are to a syllabus adopted under this section, or deemed to be adopted under this section by virtue of paragraph 14(2) of Schedule 31; and accordingly in relation to a syllabus deemed to have been so adopted, any reference to the date on which an agreed syllabus was adopted is a reference to the date of deemed adoption specified by the Welsh Ministers in a direction under that paragraph.

(8) In exercising functions under this section, a local authority must have regard to any guidance given by the Welsh Ministers.”