Ref. 30082-4A TEACHING union official claims that religious assemblies are divisive and wants them scrapped.

Dick Mattick, Swindon secretary of the NASUWT, believes the days of traditional hymn-singing assemblies are numbered.

And he says that now is the time to replace the 1944 Education Act with something that reflects modern society.

Under the Act, which was strengthened by Margaret Thatcher's Government in 1988, all children must receive some form of Christian collective worship every day.

But many including David Bell, the UK's chief inspector of schools feel they could be doing more harm than good.

Mr Mattick said: "Experts confirm that pupils are at their brightest first thing in the morning and I would argue that assemblies should not cut into prime teaching time.

"Increasingly, they are getting more and more administrative anyway.

"A lot of schools ignore the Act and that sets a bad example. I think it would make better sense to scrap them altogether."

With society rapidly changing, Mr Mattick thinks that pupils from ethnic minorities feel excluded by the Christian ethos adopted by schools.

He said: "Assemblies can be useful for a headteacher to create a sense of community but a lot of Swindon schools now have large numbers of pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds and it can be divisive."

John Saunders, headteacher of 900-strong Highworth Warneford School, believes that the Act needs modifying.

He said: "Our pupils have one year group religious assembly each week. From a practical viewpoint I think it would be worth looking at the Act again and making changes.

"Here, we have neither the space nor the facilities to get everyone together each day.

"I believe it is important to have one weekly assembly with a strong moral approach and also to refer to other religions too."

Jane Wheatley, headteacher of St Andrews C of E Primary School in Blunsdon dismissed Mr Mattick's comments.

She stressed it was down to each school to ensure their assemblies do not segregate or offend pupils.

Mrs Wheatley, said: "At this school we have pupils with a range of faiths including Muslims and Buddhists.

"Although this is a Christian school, their parents would sooner send them here than to a secular school. This is because of the spiritual development pupils of church schools receive."

Meanwhile Sally Inskip, headteacher of Holy Rood Catholic Junior School, said that assemblies form a vital part of the day.

"Religious assemblies are about far more than singing and praying," she said.

"The most important thing is that they are relevant to the lives of the children who we are helping to turn into good, respectful citizens."

Kevin shoesmith