Belief vs Boundaries: A Debate on Religious Expression in Schools

In an increasingly diverse society, the question of how religion fits into education is both relevant and complex. For this reason, we decided to launch our first Debate Club session of the year with the motion:“Religious expression should be banned from schools — how far do you agree with this statement?” 

What followed was a lively and thoughtful exchange of ideas on rights, respect, and the role of school in society  led by a group of Sixth Formers and debated passionately by two groups of Year 9 students.

We began by splitting the Year 9s into two teams: Proposition (supporting the ban) and Opposition (defending religious expression). Each group had 10 minutes to prepare their arguments with guidance from the Debate Club leaders. The Year 9s rose to the occasion  with impressive maturity and sharp thinking despite the complexity of the topic. This wasn’t just a shouting match - it was a genuine exchange of ideas where students tested their reasoning and respectfully challenged opposing views.

The proposition team argued that school should be a neutral space, free from visible religious symbols or practices that could divide or isolate students. One speaker stated: “When people wear religious items, it can create groups and separations. Schools should bring people together, not highlight differences.” 

They also raised the issue of peer pressure and conformity, suggesting that some students might feel uncomfortable or even unsafe expressing different beliefs - or even none at all.  One of the Year 9 girls argued how “this should be avoided at all costs”. A particularly strong point was made about France’s secular school system  where religious symbols are banned in order to maintain strict neutrality and inclusion. “It’s not about banning belief, it’s about keeping school a place of learning, not religion,” another student insisted.

On the other hand, the opposition team countered confidently, arguing that free speech and religious expression is a fundamental human right that should not be ignored just for being in a school building. One student stated - “No school or institution should have the power to silence anyone or their beliefs” , to which someone responded in agreement - “If we ban religious items, we’re asking students to hide part of who they are. That’s not fair.”

During the debate, we were also reminded that freedom of religion is protected by law and international human rights agreements: “You wouldn’t tell someone to remove a cultural item, so why is religion any different?”  The team also argued that diversity should be celebrated, not suppressed, and that learning to live alongside different beliefs is part of education itself.

However, Some participants explored middle-ground solutions, like allowing discreet expressions of faith but discouraging anything that might seem exclusionary or disruptive. The level of empathy and open-mindedness was a credit to everyone involved in the discussion, which led to students from the proposition team to admit things like: “I do believe in religious freedom, but I also think school should be a place where we focus on what unites us.” or members of the opposition team who acknowledged: “We shouldn’t use religion to exclude or judge others - but that doesn’t mean we should hide it either.”

At the end of the tight debate, all of the members of the Debate Club Team held a vote to decide who the winning team was. After minutes of discussion and evaluating the highlights of each team, although both groups did a fantastic job and expressed their arguments thoughtfully, giving some very insightful arguments, we declared that the Preposition group had won the debate! But more than the final result, what mattered most was the process, where students thought critically, listened actively, and engaged respectfully. 

This debate wasn’t just about turbans and crosses, it was about how we live together in a diverse society. 

At a time when religion can be a source of both identity and tension, conversations like this one are crucial, helping us understand one another better, recognise the importance of freedom, and navigate the delicate line between respecting personal belief whilst protecting our shared space.

As one Year 9 student wisely concluded: “We don’t all have to believe the same things — but we do have to respect each other.”  And maybe, just maybe, that’s the kind of education that matters most.

Cayetana Güell, Year 12