A SURVEY has found that a number of schools in Darlington are allowing children to opt out of religious education.

Darlington Borough Council's standing advisory committee on religious education wrote to headteachers to find out the number of pupils who do not take part in the lessons and to discover what alternative provision was made.

Concern had been raised by committee members that some children could be choosing not to take part in religious education or collective worship for reasons other than because of their own religion.

A total of 17 schools responded, revealing four pupils did not take part in religious education and seven did not go to collective worship. A further five were partially withdrawn from collective worship.

Children took part in assemblies but, if they became upset in religious lessons, they were given alternative tasks, such as computer-based work or reading activities.

Some schools allowed pupils to work in a different classroom if the lesson was deemed inappropriate.

The committee found that students who were Jehovah's Witnesses were generally withdrawn from sex education classes and opted out of lessons where spirits were discussed. Some pupils did stay in lessons, but were withdrawn when particular subjects were discussed.

A report will be presented to the committee at the town hall today at 4pm.