Is It A Requirement For Teachers At A Religious School To Be Religious Themselves?

[bednobs]

i was wondering

[fiction-factory]

No. I have worked in Catholic schools, Cof E schools, Muslim schools. No-one has ever asked. However you would be expeced to support the ethos in general terms and not be openly hostile to the religion, and you may be expected to lead prayers in form time

[woofgang]

Good question......I went to a direct grant C of E school and the teachers all behaved as if they were.....but who really knows?

[woofgang]

that's interesting FF....I mean I could hack through the Jesus religions but did you ever have to lead Islamic prayers and how did you manage? were you expected to appear to fast through Ramadan?

[Jackdaw33]

It helps on your CV if you do practise the religion.

[fiction-factory]

My 'no' answer reflects my experience but may be a generalisation. There may be some schools that require it but most don't seem to.

[Buenchico]

I made the mistake, many years ago, of applying for a job at a Church of England school (which, amazingly, didn't think fit to include 'C of E' or similar in its name or to mention that it was a church school in the blurb that was sent out with application forms).

As soon as I arrived and saw 'C of E' on the sign outside I knew that it wasn't the job for me (as I'm an atheist who heartily detests all forms of religion, and Christianity in particular) but I had to go through with the interview process in order to be able to claim my expenses for travelling half-way across the country.

It was made exceptionally clear during the interview that the school was only interested in appointing a committed Christian to the post.

[fiction-factory]

Prayes are a regular feature in some, but not all, Catholic schools but it's clear that at most schools the pupils have little interest and there's often not huge interest from a lot of staff. I've only ever done odd days in Muslim schools and never had to do any prayers as I don't have regular form classes and religion isn't featured in the maths curriculum, so for me it was just like being in any other school.

[Buenchico]

From a legal viewpoint, just like any other employer, a school isn't allowed to discriminate against job applicants on the basis of their religion (or lack of it). However in practice they use phrases in job descriptions such as "the ideal candidate for the post will be someone who feels comfortable working within the ethos and practices of a Christian school".

It's similar elsewhere. If the Archbishop of Canterbury is seeking a new PA he's not permitted to specify that candidates should be Christians (or to ask them about their faith, or lack of it). However an application for the post from Jacob Rubenstein (who lists playing football for the Golder's Green synagogue Sunday morning team among his hobbies) might somehow or other fail to find its way to the top of the pile.

[Spungle]

No, it is certainly not a requirement. We have a (faith) school in our village of which the children all belong to the same evangelical Christian community. But none of the teachers belong to their community, and they have teachers from all different faiths and backgrounds- I think that's great.

[Peter Pedant]

1944 act allowed denominational schools
but I am not sure if you would not be allowed not to hire someone of the 'wrong'denomination

I went to a catholic school with monks everywhere - yes now a few are doing time - and I dont think they minded if the maff master was a prot....

I mean maff teachers dont really say - holy mairead mudder of god, one plus one is two!

islamic schools not surprisingly ....

[Peter Pedant]

I was asked if I had been to mass at my workplace
and just about dropped dead with surprise ( 1980)

even in those days you werent meant to ask such things