Home Archived Letters: Religion in assembly is cross examined - Dr Anthony Wenman Back Letters: Religion in assembly is cross examined - Dr Anthony Wenman 14th August 2009, 1:00am Dr Anthony Wenman Share Letters: Religion in assembly is cross examined - Dr Anthony Wenman https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/letters-religion-assembly-cross-examined-dr-anthony-wenman Copy Link Original headline: Religion in assembly is cross examinedYour leader refers to the Archbishop of Wales’ view of worship in schools as an opportunity for “every youngster to get in touch with their inner spirituality” (“Collective worship falls short on moral validity”, August 7). You claim that this statement means “precisely nothing”. It is comments of that nature that justify the Archbishop in thinking that, without such opportunities, pupils will inhabit a “bland secular wasteland”.Schools are under a statutory obligation to promote pupils’ spiritual development. My PhD research suggests that many schools and Ofsted staff lack a real understanding of the nature of spirituality. Instead, they concentrate on promoting pupils’ knowledge, as indicated by academic test results.A pupil who is excellent at science may contribute to a school’s honours board of achievement, but it depends on the spirituality, the essential nature of that burgeoning adult as to whether the knowledge so successfully attained will be put to ends that are to the benefit or detriment of society.For the editor of The TES to suggest that concern for such development is meaningless shows that the Archbishop of Wales has something to worry about.Dr Anthony Wenman, Claygate, Surrey. Want to keep reading for free? Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters. Register Log in Keep reading for just £1 per month You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get: Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content Exclusive subscriber-only stories Award-winning email newsletters Subscribe now Nothing found Recent Most read Most shared Ofsted inspections: everything you need to know Analysis 20 September 2024 ‘Thin reform proposals’ not enough for ‘creaking’ education system Analysis 20 September 2024 Labour’s education policy: what schools can expect News 20 September 2024 Schools must not use Ofsted logos for this year’s judgements News 17 September 2024 Teacher pay scales 2024-25: what will your salary look like? Analysis 29 July 2024 How to fix the primary maths curriculum Teaching & Learning 18 September 2024 DfE urged to review curriculum panel over Oak links News 18 September 2024 Call for Ofsted ‘transparency’ over board minutes News 17 September 2024 How to fix the primary maths curriculum Teaching & Learning 18 September 2024