The Bishop of Southampton has called for “everyone to enable the staff and children of Norwood Primary School to celebrate the end of term and Easter in peace,” amid protest plans next week.
And she says the school is 'deeply valued' in the community.
It comes after the Eastleigh school said it would not carry out two Easter events – the primary school’s annual Easter bonnet parade and Easter service that were due to take place next month. The school will still mark Easter.
The headteacher wrote to parents and carers to say they wouldn’t be going ahead “in the spirit of inclusivity and respect for the diverse religious beliefs represented within our school community.”
The announcement sparked threats of protests outside the school and the police have been involved.
The headteacher later clarified the school would still be celebrating Easter. She said: “As with other religious festivals, children continue to learn about and celebrate Easter both educationally in our R.E. lessons and in our assemblies across the whole half term.”
READ MORE: 'Best' Southampton school praised by Ofsted
Bishop of Southampton, Rhiannon King (Image: Newsquest) Following the news, Bishop of Southampton, Rhiannon King, said she was “encouraged by the headteacher's assurance that learning about Christian faith remains embedded firmly in the Religious Education curriculum.”
She said: "Norwood Community Primary School is deeply valued in the parish where it serves and supports the local community."
In a statement, she added: “Whilst of course the church would love to see everyone celebrating Jesus’ resurrection at Easter – a feast which offers a rich opportunity to learn about themes of hope, forgiveness and renewal, as well as enabling schools to understand the religious and cultural traditions that have shaped our society – we appreciate the challenges faced by our education leaders as they seek to serve families of all faiths and none, and we look forward to supporting the school in the future in facing those challenges.
“Christian worship has always had an invitational quality, offering space for reflection, community, and shared values that can speak to everyone, whatever their personal beliefs – and the church in this diocese is here to support all schools in this.”
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