Religious Education in Northern Ireland
At ACT, we affirm that God has been remarkably faithful to our nation. Our education system owes much to its Christian foundations, and the presence of biblical teaching and Christian influence in schools has long been a blessing for pupils, communities, and society as a whole. This is especially true in Northern Ireland, where the drift towards secularism has been less pronounced than in the rest of the UK, and where the foundational truths of Christianity have continued to shape education more deeply and for longer than in the other nations.
We therefore note with concern the recent UK Supreme Court ruling on Religious Education and collective worship in Northern Ireland’s controlled schools. The Court concluded that RE and worship breach human rights if they are not delivered in an “objective, critical and pluralistic manner”. The case was brought by a Belfast pupil and her father, who argued that the strongly Christian focus of her school’s provision conflicted with their own beliefs. After a complex legal process, the Supreme Court has reinstated the original High Court decision in their favour. It brings Religious Education more in line with provisions for the rest of the UK.
While the ruling does not ban Christian RE or worship, it emphasises that the delivery must acknowledge the diversity of pupils’ beliefs. As Lord Stephens noted, teaching that lacks pluralism risks being interpreted as “indoctrination”. ACT would urge caution with the use of that characterisation—it overlooks the integrity and dedication of thousands of teachers who faithfully teach RE with fairness, depth, and professionalism.
This ruling sits within a wider context where secular ideologies often dominate school life and where the overall ‘diet’ of the curriculum is shaped largely by secular liberal assumptions. This creates a clear cognitive dissonance. Many teachers may not recognise these secular frameworks as ideologies in their own right, yet as Christians we know that when society attempts to remove elements of Christianity from the public sphere, human beings do not become less ‘religious’—our devotion is simply redirected elsewhere.
The Bible reminds us, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). As Christians, we believe education cannot be separated from truth, and God’s Word IS truth. Yet we also recognise the reality of a secular and pluralistic context where many competing ideas about truth coexist and the inevitable implications of this for our schools.
This ruling is not a moment for fear, but for faithful engagement. Many schools already teach Christianity in an objective and thoughtful way, and when done well, this provides a powerful opportunity for the truth and hope of the gospel to shine clearly. Christians can remain confident that the gospel is good news within any plural setting. Though we may lament this ruling, we know that the good news of Jesus can stand up for itself.
In every generation, God’s people are called to “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 1:3)—with grace, humility, and conviction. We respect the legal processes of our nation, but we also affirm our calling to defend opportunities for biblical truth to be considered in every sphere. Whether in classrooms, assemblies, or conversations, we must continue to graciously present Christ and trust the Holy Spirit to lead children and young people towards their own understanding.
This moment invites us not to retreat, but to stand with confidence in the integrity of the gospel message, and a deep commitment to gracious compassion as we continue to serve Christ in education.