UK: Christian campaigners force new guidelines over creationism

Ministers have been forced to issue guidelines on how to teach Creationism in science classes after pressure from Christian campaigners.

Teachers are allowed to answer questions on the subject but must make clear it has ‘no underpinning scientific principles’, new government advice states.

The move is in response to a campaign by Christian group ‘Truth in Science‘ which last summer sent every school DVDs promoting intelligent design (ID), a Creationism offshoot, in a bid to get it taught.

It is also intended to avoid the situation in the United States where teachers under pressure from the religious Right have forced science teachers to begin lessons in ID.

Creationism, the Biblical theory that The Earth was created by God in six days, has been controversial in recent years.

Three City Academies run by Christian car dealer Sir Peter Vardy have been criticised for featuring Creationist theories in lessons.

Pupils taking Biology GCSE with exam board OCR this year became the first students in mainstream education to answer questions on the theory in a science exam.

This prompted The Royal Society to issue an open letter stating Creationism had no place in schools and that pupils should be clear science backs the theory of evolution.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has in the past said he is not comfortable with it being taught to pupils.

The new guidance says teachers should respond ‘positively and educationally’ to questions about Creationism and be ‘respectful of students’ views, religious or otherwise’.

But it also makes clear makes clear such beliefs are not valid scientific theories and not ‘scientifically testable’.

Teachers should instill in pupils aged five to 14 the outlines of evolutionary theory and focus on the ‘nature and evidence for evolution’ at GCSE and A-level.

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families, said: “The guidelines were issued in response to materials distributed last year on teaching Creationism in schools by religious groups.

“It is the first time there has been guidance on this matter.”

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