Bradford is a leading light in providing faith education for youngsters across the district. Carolyne Coyle reports on the success of two unique initiatives in the city which are sparking interest across the country - and in Europe

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very week 7,000 hours of single-faith assemblies are held in schools across Bradford.

Youngsters meet with fellow students who share the same faith for sessions run by a tutor, also of the same faith.

Organised by Education Bradford's tutors from the Interfaith Centre, this specialist approach began in the 1980s.

The 1944 Education Act said every child should take part in collective worship every school day.

But religious educationalists in Bradford felt this was not necessarily appropriate for everyone, and the single-faith group assemblies were born.

Joyce Miller, the strategic manager for RE at Education Bradford, said the aim was to ensure that schools were seen to affirm pupils' religious identity and their faith.

"It gives parents real confidence that schools do care about and want to support their beliefs and values," she said.

And the pupils also benefit by having someone of their own faith coming into school on a regular basis in addition to general religious teachings in schools.

"The sessions are not based in a religious setting, they're not at mosque or church, and sometimes every session can have the same message to get across, regardless of the group's faith," said Joyce.

"It helps build young people's respect for one another within their own religion and for others and their religions.

"The faith tutors are a role model for the students and it also helps create a sense of community.

"Meeting as a group affects their sense of identity and community, and being part of a community is a very important part of children's growth."

Nine faith tutors - four Muslim, two Sikh, two Hindu and one Christian - meet regularly to discuss their assemblies, and often they convey the same message.

And on some occasions tutors take part in assemblies with other faith groups to share their ideas and stories.

For Remembrance Day all groups looked at peace and reconciliation.

"They will also draw on stories from other faiths to help get a point across and to show different faiths can share the same morals. It helps the realise they share a commonality," said Joyce.

Schools choose to take up the sessions.

Hindu tutor Seema Buttoo visits ten schools to give Hindu assemblies with Hindu youngsters and children of other faiths.

"It's a great opportunity for me to share my religious experience with the children and it helps reinforce their beliefs," she said.

"Hearing something at home, and then having this repeated in school helps them grasp their own religion and the religion of others."

Another initiative which is attracting interest is Bradford's Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (Sacre).

It was last year praised by Ofsted inspectors for its growing reputation both in the UK and abroad.

The body, which is made up of members of different faith groups from across the district, reviews progress of the agreed syllabus which schools follow, and also works towards improving the quality of worship in schools.

And the district was also praised for setting up Britain's first student Sacre, which allows sixth-form students to have their say.

Joyce has been invited to several education authorities who are keen to follow Bradford's route.

Calderdale and Kirklees are already taking on the idea of single-faith assemblies and are looking at setting up their own Sacres, and later this year Joyce will be flying out to Turin, in Italy, and Germany.

"It's a very exciting time for us and it's good to see that others are interested in following our example," she said.

e-mail: carolyne.coyle

@bradford.newsquest.co.uk