Secular campaigners have demanded an investigation into a Powys secondary school amid claims it is “promoting” Christianity and creationism to its pupils.
The National Secular Society (NSS) contacted the Welsh Government claiming Llanidloes High School has wall displays which combine religion with science, geography and Welsh literature, and that Bible references are included in pupils’ 141-page planner.
Campaigners say the “extensive campaign of evangelism” at the secondary school, which had an Estyn inspection in February, is a “gross violation of trust”.
Now headteacher Daniel Owen told parents and carers in a four-page letter on Monday (June 17) that the school will “continue to adhere to the law regarding collective worship", support children from faith communities, and support the new Curriculum for Wales using themes including "Religion, Values and Ethics".
The promotion of creationism is not prohibited in Welsh schools but in England, teaching creationism as a scientific theory is banned.
Llanidloes High School says it teaches creation, evolution and big bang theories in religious education lessons “like other schools across the country”, in line with WJEC examination board’s GCSE Religious Studies specification.
The school says its science lessons comprise "hypothesis, practical experimentation, observation, theory development and review", and that variation and evolution comprise part of its biology syllabus.
Mr Owen, who is a Christian and a leader at a Newtown church, is also accused of using school assemblies and the requirement to provide collective worship “to promote Christian ideas and messaging”.
“The law states that schools must provide collective worship daily for all registered pupils,” Mr Owen said.
“Most acts of collective worship in each term should be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character.
“Like other schools across the UK, we respect both the right of staff to withdraw from collective worship and the right of parents’ to excuse their child."
He said different assemblies throughout the year are led by staff, clergy from different denominations, and the pupils themselves, and that its ‘thought for the day’ booklet quotes sources "from the Bible to Benjamin Franklin, and Dwight L Moody to Dumbledore".
“Pupils have an eclectic range of source material to help them reflect on the beliefs of others to help them shape their own spiritual and ethical beliefs,” Mr Owen said.
Photographs the NSS says are from an individual show large wall displays combining science and geography content with quotes from the Bible which they claim are “intended to encourage creationist ideas”.
One display of marine life features the Bible verse: “God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing”.
Another, representing the solar system with quotes from famous physicists Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking, includes: “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them”.
Mr Owen said the school commissioned the “broad and balanced” and “thought-provoking” displays to mark the roll out of the new Curriculum for Wales.
“Our displays are designed to embed subject knowledge, complement our broad and balanced curriculum, inspire pupils’ curiosity, support delivery of cross-cutting themes, and reflect the emphasis in the new Welsh curriculum on the inter-connectedness of different subject disciplines across the curriculum,” he said.
“One display makes clear that pupils are valued regardless of their age, sex, additional learning needs, race, sexuality, religion, belief, hobbies or lifestyle.”
He added: “They have considerably improved the learning environment and have been shared with parents and the wider community through school’s termly newsletter which is available on the school website."
He added that Estyn said the budget at the school was well-managed.
A poster shared by the NSS shows a Christian club for pupils advertising that it will be hosting an ‘Alpha’ talk about the basics of the faith. The school said it allows Christian pupils to meet in ‘The Lighthouse’ club during lunchtimes.
The NSS also raised “safeguarding concerns” over a page in the 141-page planner containing Bible references provided by the Gideons, who visit schools to hand out bibles.
These verses highlighted in the leaflet include advice that pupils “flee from sexual immorality” and “flee the evil desires of youth”.
The school says the page was included in the planner “in support of Christian children who find them helpful”.
Mr Owen added that the planners contain a “wide-ranging and beneficial pastoral information aimed at promoting pupils’ emotional, mental and physical wellbeing and safety”.
Stephen Evans, chief executive of the National Secular Society, said: “Promoting creationism is entirely without educational justification, and actively undermines teaching about evidence-based theories such as evolution, as well as children’s critical thinking skills.
“The extensive campaign of evangelism at Llanidloes High School is a gross violation of the trust which should exist between pupils, parents, and staff."
He added: “The Welsh Government must urgently investigate Llanidloes High School and introduce measures explicitly prohibiting the promotion of creationism.”
Powys County Council said it is having discussions with Mr Owen, the Chair of Governors Margot Jones and the Welsh Government about the matter.
A spokesperson for the local authority said: “The guidance on Religion, Values and Ethics is very clear and published under section 71 of the Curriculum and Assessment Act 2021. It is this guidance that we expect all our schools to be adhering to.
“We are also engaging with the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) – a statutory requirement for all local authorities – to seek advice under its statutory duties.”
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