At St Colmcille’s PS & Nursery Unit we respect parental choice. The Department of Education has issued guidance confirming that all parents have a statutory right to withdraw a pupil, wholly or partially, from Religious Education and/or collective worship.

If you wish to withdraw your child, contact the school office for a copy of the parental withdrawal form or download the form from our school website. The form should be completed, indicating which elements (e.g. full RE programme or certain prayers/assemblies) you wish to withdraw from and returned to Miss Deighan in a sealed envelope. No reason for withdrawal needs to be given.

We will process your request promptly and confirm in writing within 5 school days.

Pupils withdrawn from RE or worship will remain on-site, supervised in a suitable activity. For example, they may engage in quiet independent work such as reading, under the supervision of a staff member. These arrangements will be made discreetly so the pupil is not singled out or stigmatized. The alternative programme will respect the pupil’s dignity and cover the time they would have been in RE/collective worship in order to ensure that your child is appropriately supervised, it may be the case that your child will remain within a classroom setting undertaking their alternative activities.

Should you have any questions please contact Miss Deighan.

Short FAQ (for parents) regarding withdrawal from RE or collective worship

Q: Can I withdraw my child from RE or collective worship?

A: Yes. Every grant-aided school must provide RE and worship, but parents have a legal right to withdraw their child from all or part of RE and/or collective worship. This is a statutory right and there is no requirement to provide reasons for doing so.

Q: How do I make the request?

 A: Complete the standard withdrawal form  (Annex A of Circular 2026/09) and return it to Miss Deighan. Indicate on the form what you are withdrawing from (e.g. “all RE” or “prayers in assembly”)

 Q: Does my child have to give a reason or attend a meeting?

A: No. You do not have to explain your decision, and no meeting or approval process is required. The form will be granted immediately.

Q: What will my child do during RE/collective worship time?

A: The child will stay on the premises under supervision and engage in a suitable quiet activity (e.g. independent study or reading). This is to ensure the child has meaningful, alternative work to do, without being isolated or labelled.

Q: Can I choose only part of RE/collective worship?

A: Yes. The form allows partial withdrawal (e.g. specific topics or parts of collective worship). Please specify exactly what you want to withdraw from on the form. You can also find the standard form and circular details on the school website or at the school office.