A growing number of parents are refusing to send their children on trips to mosques, citing a range of reasons from cost to concerns over religious exposure and political agenda. In response to the fear this is creating a culture of islamophobia in their county, Staffordshire local authority has produced guidance around RE trips and approaching this sensitive and often controversial topic. The Staffordshire’s Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) resource includes a template letter to parents, outlining the value of helping pupils understand different cultures and faiths. It provides useful and practical advice around preparing pupils for an RE trip so they 'will be comfortable with any differences they see’, through ideas such as having a representative of that particular faith visit the school in advance, or conducting a virtual tour through class discussion.
Families has the right to withdraw their children from visits to places of worship, but SACRE argues that taking the decision to do so is a serious matter: “While objections are raised about visits to a number of places of worship, they are most frequently about visits to mosques, which raises the bigger issue of Islamaphobia and how this can be addressed […] Visits to sacred spaces bring the agreed syllabus to life and underpin the role of RE in helping to prepare and equip pupils for life and citizenship in today's diverse and plural Britain."
The Stoke Sentinel undertook a survey through social media around parental opinions on the topic, with many keen that young people are exposed to a diverse range of faiths in order to encourage tolerance and awareness in these trying times. However others felt faith should form no part of the curriculum at all and were uncomfortable with the idea of their children participating in these faiths. It is important to adopt a policy on these topics, encouraging parents to allow their child to participate in educational outings, while maintaining an awareness of the need to be respectful and responsive to concerns.
Access this useful resource through the SACRE site, see also HandsamSchoolTripsAdvisor advice on Religious Education outings.
