Festivals - Further Information
We have had several students withdrawn from participating in Christmas activities over a fair period of the autumn term - what should we do?
The faith and cultural profiles of schools in Haringey are ever changing and schools need to be responsive to their communities.
It can often appear to non-Christian families that from October onwards community schools begin to connect many parts of the curriculum to activities related either closely or loosely to Christmas and to turn into Christian schools.
Parents begin to be uncomfortable with the way that their children’s beliefs may be compromised by being included in a range of experiences.
Some of the activities that cause distress have little or no relation to mainstream Christian religious beliefs; instead they are associated with customs connected to this time of year, e.g making and displaying classroom decorations or having a visit from ‘Father Christmas’.
Christmas parties have no direct connection to Christian beliefs.
It may be more useful to call and focus these as end of year parties in order to ensure participation by a wide group of students and staff.
|Back to topSchools should:
- try to see curriculum offer through the eyes of their students and their families.
- consider whether they are providing a broad curriculum offer that is inclusive in the weeks leading to the end of term.
- clarify which elements of their curriculum are religious and which cultural and decode these for their community.
- expect no non-Christian student to speak or sing words professing beliefs that they do not agree with, for example calling Jesus God.
Further Information
Community Participation Officer
Children and Young People’s Service
Tel: 020 8489 3884
Email: faith@haringey.gov.uk
