Religion in Scottish non-denominational primary schools

[Blankiefan]

Looking for some context. DH and I are both very lapsed Catholics who both went to Catholic schools. We are both atheist and DD is P1 in a non-denominational school.

I'm really surprised to see two or three full school Church Services appear in the annual school calendar across the year as well as Easter and Xmas (which I'm not surprised about and accept as having a Christian basis). So - I'm not happy about the undercurrent of Church of Scotland Protestantism that seems to run through the school. Is this normal? Is it inevitable?

I've had a brief read and am surprised that religion seems to be an accepted part of the Curriculum for excellence. Do any schools at least do a better job of representing the spectrum of religions/secular stances out there? Is our school just a lazy reflection of West of Scotland "not Catholic = Protestant"?

I believe I can remove her from the religious elements but I don't want her excluded from her classmates if I can avoid it.

Any thoughts?

I'm at the west coast and our primary school does a service at Christmas and end of the school year. I have the impression that the head mistress does as little religion as she can get away with. My children were taught about other religions but often as part of bigger topics, like they learned about Hinduism as part of a topic about India.
Compared to the small Frankonian village where I'm from where you really are a bit of an outsider if you don't do the full Catholic thing with first communion and confirmation and join the Catholic youth club, this is great though.

Our school welcomes all faiths to lead an assembly throughout the year. The church of Scotland minister comes, a Sikh leader comes once a year but no-one else has ever taken up the invitation. No Muslim leader despite there being a significant number of Muslim kids in the school. And it is an actual invitation, I know this from being on the Parent Council.

If you went to a Catholic school and made up your mind as an adult to be atheist then you should have confidence that your child will be able to make their own decisions also. She will not be damaged by the odd religious assembly.

If you went to a Catholic school and made up your mind as an adult to be atheist then you should have confidence that your child will be able to make their own decisions also. She will not be damaged by the odd religious assembly.

Knitjob - you make a good point.