A Welsh comprehensive school is being investigated after the National Secular Society (NSS) complained it is teaching creationism and promoting evangelical Christianity to pupils.
The NSS criticised Llanidloes High School, Powys for teaching creationism and displaying posters combining educational content with Scripture verses – material NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said amounts to an ‘extensive campaign of evangelism’.
Head teacher Daniel Owen, also an elder at Newtown Evangelical Church, wrote to parents following local media coverage. He said: ‘We do not promote or instil any doctrines or ideologies, nor do we evangelise, rather, we continue to develop what inspectors described as, ‘a clear vision for [our] Curriculum for Wales following appropriate trialling, evaluation and taking account of the views of stakeholders …’
He added that the school teaches creation as well as evolution and big bang theories in religious education lessons; and that inspectors recently described the curriculum as ‘broad and balanced’ and ‘successful’.
However, Evans said: ‘The Welsh Government must urgently introduce measures explicitly prohibiting the promotion of creationism.’ Schools in England are already banned from teaching creationism as fact.
A spokesperson for Powys County Council ‘As a council we are currently told en: in discussion with the head teacher, chair of governors and Welsh Government on this matter. We are also engaging with the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education – a statutory requirement for all local authorities – to seek advice under its statutory duties.’
Cambrian News reported Daniel Owen as saying the school ‘is careful to comply’ with the Education Reform Act 1988 and Department for Education Circular 1/94: ‘The school will continue to adhere to the law regarding collective worship, support children from faith communities, delivering our vision for the new Curriculum of Wales including cross-cutting themes such as religion, values and ethics, and providing outstanding pastoral care for all pupils.’
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