Overview
- The court upheld an appeal by a Belfast pupil known as JR87 and her father, finding that RE and mandatory collective worship as delivered under the core syllabus breached their human rights.
- Delivering the judgment, Lord Stephens said treating teaching that is not objective, critical and pluralist as distinct from indoctrination was wrong, calling the concepts two sides of the same coin.
- The ruling restores the 2022 High Court decision and overturns the Court of Appeal, with the Department of Education’s cross-appeal dismissed.
- The justices held that relying on a parental right to withdraw can stigmatise pupils and place an undue burden on parents, with a reasonable apprehension of stigma deemed sufficient.
- The Department of Education was found to have failed to inspect or monitor RE and worship for rights compliance, prompting calls to review the core syllabus, strengthen oversight and issue clear guidance, with campaigners urging wider UK reforms.