Education
The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
Statement on the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill
24 February 2026
The Bishops thank the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES) and the Scottish Catholic Parliamentary Office (SCPO) for the considerable work undertaken to present the Church’s strongly held views on this issue.
We recognise a number of important protections which have been secured. Religious Education remains a central part of the curriculum and will continue to be an entitlement for all pupils. In Catholic schools, Religious Education will remain within the authority of the Bishops’ Conference. The Scottish Government has acknowledged the intrinsic nature of Religious Education and Religious Observance in Catholic schools and, despite these being de-coupled in law, has committed to respecting and continuing both. The Government has also committed to involving SCES in drafting the statutory guidance. Furthermore, the retention of the term “Religious Instruction” in law ensures that the Religious Character of Catholic schools is not reduced solely to classroom learning.
However, we are deeply concerned by the decision to grant Scottish Ministers the power to introduce regulations that would permit young people to withdraw from religious observance without parental involvement. Article 14 of the UNCRC is often quoted selectively, overlooking its clear emphasis on the essential role of parents in a child’s religious upbringing. This narrative risks creating a false divide between children’s rights and parental responsibilities. Any future legislation must uphold the UNCRC’s intention to support families, not diminish their role.
We remain deeply concerned at the official policy of the Scottish Greens to impose a fully secular model of state education – an approach that would strip away Scotland’s denominational schools entirely.
We will work firmly and constructively with the Scottish Government to ensure that Catholic schools continue to be protected in law and safeguarded for the communities they serve.
Our diocese has 4 Catholic primary schools:
St Columba's Primary School - Oban
St Muns' Primary School - Dunoon
St Andrew's Primary School - Rothesay
St Columba's Primary School - Fort William
Since September 2021, the diocese has offered online sacramental instruction for parishes.
Online delivery is a particularly valuable means to provide catechesis in our diocese, given the geographical challenges that we face. Even within parishes, parishioners can live far and wide!
Meeting parishioners and providing Catholic education face to face is always most preferable. However, despite its limitations, online provision has opened up new ways of evangelisation to meet the needs of our rural communities.
Online classes to prepare for Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation are available to parishes who choose to take part and who do not have a Catholic school in their parish.
This year we have 19 children from 7 different parishes taking part in our online courses. The children are able to learn and meet other children from the diocese – something both novel and valuable in building community in Argyll & The Isles. Parents are encouraged to take part with their children and a few have commented that they have learned a lot through the courses as well!
For more information contact your parish priest or send an email to the diocesan RE Advisor, Fr Ronald Campbell.
