A tightening of regulations around religious education in state schools

Under a planned law change, schools will require explicit written permission from parents to allow children to receive religious instruction.

Currently, written permission is advised, but not compulsory.

The law change comes under the Education and Training Bill which passed its first reading just before Christmas.

It comes as the Secular Education Network takes a case to the High Court, in a bid to get religious instruction in schools declared to be a breach of the Bill of Rights Act.