SCHOOLS are failing to adopt a religious education syllabus set up three years ago, a survey has revealed.

A survey has shown a "significant" number of primary schools are failing to provide the religious curriculum, which was drawn up in 1994.

The study, conducted by Lancashire County Council, also showed there had been a delay in some secondary schools adopting an RE syllabus.

Religious education is not part of the National Curriculum and is the only subject for which the county council has statutory responsibility.

At the request of SACRE - the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education - the county council conducted a survey to discover how schools had implemented the syllabus.

The programme of religious education is 'locally determined' and can be based on a school's ethnic make-up.

A lack of resources is thought to have prevented schools from implementing the syllabus. A county council report says that in schools, both primary and secondary, where the requirements of the syllabus are being met, pupil attainment level is above expectation.

It says further evidence to support this came from GCSE results which overall showed Lancashire schools performing above national average scores.

But the report adds: "A significant number of primary schools have yet to implement the Agreed Syllabus fully and to draw on the professional support provided by the authority.

"Similarly in some secondary schools there has been a delay in implementing the Agreed Syllabus."

County councillors were considering the problem at a meeting of the schools and quality development sub committee today.

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