The Liberal Democrats have backed a motion to end Christian assemblies in schools. At the party’s conference last week, delegates voted to repeal the existing legal requirement for all state-funded schools to hold acts of collective worship of a broadly Christian character. But a motion to ban faith-based selection in state-funded schools was defeated, after Business Secretary Vince Cable and Justice Minister Simon Hughes said it risked ‘really serious harm’. Earlier this year, the Rt Revd John Pritchard, who chairs the Church of England’s board of education, said Christian school assemblies should be replaced with a time of ‘spiritual reflection’. He claimed changing the law could be ‘liberating’ for schools and churches. However, an editorial in The Daily Telegraph said replacing Christian assemblies would be a ‘fundamental change’, adding that there is ‘no evidence’ to show that parents object to their children being exposed to Christian themes. (See also Prayer Alert 25-2014)

There are still significant problems at the five Birmingham schools placed into special measures following concerns about a hard-line Islamist takeover. England's schools' watchdog Ofsted says the action plans are still ‘not fit for purpose’ in some of the five. At one, ‘staff do not trust each other’, it says, and ‘safeguarding remains a serious concern’ at another. The inspections took place early this term. The Department for Education described them as ‘a snapshot’. The five schools were inspected - on an unannounced basis - between 8th and 12th September, and in some cases new governors and heads had only just started work. Inspectors raised concerns that it had taken too much time to appoint new governors and senior leaders at these schools. This meant ‘very little action’ had been taken to address the serious concerns raised about their performance. Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw said, 'Too much poor practice remained unchallenged during the summer term’.

Euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands have risen by 151 per cent over the last seven years, prompting fears about ‘steady extension’ if Britain legalises assisted suicide. According to Dutch media reports, the number of euthanasia deaths last year increased by 15 per cent to 4,829, compared to 4,188 in 2012. Last year 3,600 people in the Netherlands were euthanised because they had cancer, and there were 42 reports of euthanasia due to severe psychiatric problems, compared with 14 in 2012 and 13 in 2011. In 97 euthanasia cases, dementia was the reason given. These patients were mainly in the early stage of the condition, when they were able to communicate properly their wish to die. Dr Peter Saunders, Campaign Director of Care Not Killing,  highlighted statistics from Switzerland and Belgium, which show similar steep increases in cases of assisted suicide since the practice was legalised. (See also Prayer Alert 33-2014)

New education standards which may politicise the curriculum pave the way for schools being sued over what they teach, according to a senior QC. In a legal opinion for The Christian Institute, John Bowers QC said the regulations break the ‘seal’ that prevents schools facing legal action over what is taught. The standards, which came into force last month, require academies, free schools and independent schools in England to ‘actively promote’ the rights defined in the Equality Act 2010, including sexual orientation and transsexual rights. Bowers said the regulations provide ‘mechanisms in the law for disgruntled pupils, parents and campaigners’ to sue individual schools. He warned that teachers may face legal action if their attempts to simplify complex religious or philosophical topics are ‘deemed to undermine respect for some people’s beliefs. The standards could result in religious and political discussion being curtailed,' Bowers said