Originally published in 1986, this book is based on research carried out in 102 County secondary and Church of England secondary and primary schools in London, the North West Region and the West Midlands. It analyses data collected from interviews with 102 headteachers, 67 religious education teachers and 139 parents whose children were attending Church schools.
The book is divided into four main areas. First it examines pupil admission policies, illustrating their effect both with the schools and on the neighbourhood. Second, it outlines the policies and practices adopted by Church school governors in appointing teaching staff and discusses the implications of these policies. The third area deals with school worship, assemblies and religious education and their place in the life of the school. The study highlights important issues and challenges facing schools especially where there is considerable religious diversity among pupils. It discusses some of the difficulties of implementing the law relating to the daily act of worship and why some schools observe the law while others disregard it. Key issues are explored which are central to the teaching of religious education: How RE teachers respond to religious diversity; why Christianity may or may not be given a central place in RE classes; what parents and RE teachers hope RE classes will achieve for pupils by the time they leave school. The fourth area focusses on multicultural education and illustrates the divergent views of headteachers on the aims, purposes and relevance on multicultural education.