Calls for Powys school probe for promoting creationism

There are calls for a school to be investigated after promoting creationism and an evangelistic Christian course.

The National Secular Society (NSS) said it had obtained images of wall displays at Llanidloes High School in Powys showing marine life and the solar system beneath lines from the Bible such as “great are the works of the Lord” and “God created the creatures of the sea”.

The NSS is calling for a ban on teaching creationism in schools in Wales, saying “it undermines teaching about evidence-based theories such as evolution”.

The Welsh government said community schools “are not permitted to have a religious leaning”.

While teaching creationism as a scientific theory is banned in England, the promotion of creationism is not prohibited in schools in Wales.

The NSS claims the promotion of creationism at the school is being led by head teacher Daniel Owen, who is also an elder or spiritual leader at an evangelical church in Newtown, about 14 miles from Llanidloes.

The church’s website says Mr Owen has “oversight of the (church’s) work amongst children and young people”, and that the church also has a “very special duty to preach the Gospel to every living person”.

The NSS says it has been told the wall displays at the school are large enough to cover entire walls, and that they were allegedly paid for from school funds.

In a picture, shown to BBC Wales by the NSS, one of the wall displays shows a map of the world under a quotation from the Apostle Paul which says: “From one man God made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole Earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.”

The secular society also claims that school planners provided to pupils have an advice page which only refers to verses from the Bible.

The image, which the NSS claims is of a page from the school planner, has sections on suicide, sex, and abuse, which point towards verses that advise people to “flee from sexual immorality”, “flee the evil desires of youth”, and people who look at women “lustfully” have already “committed adultery” in their heart.

The advice page does not direct the pupils to helplines or other professional sources of support for abuse or suicide.

The NSS also claims that Mr Owen is alleged to have told teachers to show a video advertising the “Alpha” course – a Christian evangelistic course – to their tutor groups, and that pupils could follow the course at lunchtime club called “Lighthouse”.

The NSS has written to the Welsh government requesting that new guidance be issued prohibiting the promotion or teaching of creationism as an alternative scientific theory.

It also called for an investigation into the situation at Llanidloes High School.

Stephen Evans, chief executive of the National Secular Society, said: “The extensive campaign of evangelism at Llanidloes High School is a gross violation of the trust which should exist between pupils, parents, and staff.

“Significant school time and resources have been expended on efforts to inculcate the religious ideology of the head teacher.”

A Welsh government spokesperson said: “Schools are required to teach science including evolution at an early age to help lay the foundations for a better understanding of wider scientific concepts and formation of the universe.

“Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) curriculum requires learners to be engaged with a range of views and beliefs commonly held in society.

“Community schools are not permitted to have a religious leaning and we are in discussions with the relevant local authority.”

A spokesperson for Powys council said: “It is essential that head teachers, senior leaders and governors understand the legal requirements of RVE within the Curriculum for Wales.

“As a council we are currently in discussion with the head teacher, chair of governors and Welsh government on this matter.

“We are also engaging with the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education – a statutory requirement for all local authorities – to seek advice under its statutory duties.”

The role of religion in schools has always been controversial.

There are over 200 faith schools in Wales, which have a religious character or have formal links with a faith-based organisation and they often have flexibility with their admissions policy and appointing staff.

But community schools aren’t allowed to have a religious leaning.

Under the Curriculum for Wales, Religion Values and Ethics is mandatory in all maintained schools and guidance says it should be “objective, critical and pluralistic” and “not about making learners ‘religious or ‘non-religious’.”

Campaigners say creationism should be explicitly banned.

Concerns have been raised in the past about the beliefs of groups invited into schools or even the ethos of some places pupils visit on school trips.

It is a sensitive area where schools usually tread carefully but in this case the Welsh government and local authority are looking into whether rules have been breached.