SCHOOL INFLUENCE AND PUPIL ATTITUDE TOWARDS RELIGION

Abstract

S ummary . Attitudes towards religion of 2,272 third and fourth year junior pupils were studied in relation to the type of religious education provided by their school. Comparisons were made between Roman Catholic aided, Church of England aided, and Local Education Authority schools. Comparisons were also made between schools which provide no religious education, schools which follow a ‘traditional’ syllabus, and schools which follow a ‘modern’ syllabus. It was found that there was no difference in pupil attitude in State schools which provide no religious education, State schools which follow the ‘traditional’ syllabus, State schools which follow the ‘modern’ syllabus, and Church of England Schools which follow the ‘traditional’ syllabus. Pupils in Roman Catholic schools scored higher on the attitude scale and pupils in Church of England schools which followed the ‘modern’ syllabus scored lower. These findings question both the effectiveness of syllabus revision in religious education, and the specifically religious contribution of certain Church of England aided primary schools.

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