As required by law (Education & Libraries (NI) Order 1986) and DE Circular 2026/09, St John’s PS provides Religious Education (RE) and collective worship. Parents may withdraw their child, fully or partially, from RE and/or collective worship. The Department’s standard withdrawal form (Annex A to Circular 2026/09) is available from the school office to exercise this right.
Children withdrawn from RE or worship will remain on-site, supervised in a suitable activity e.g. quiet independent work, reading, or study under the supervision of a staff member. These arrangements will be made discreetly so the child is not singled out or stigmatized. The alternative programme will respect the child’s dignity and cover the time they would have been in RE/collective worship 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. Withdrawal forms are available on request from the school office.
