The Scottish Parliament has passed a Bill which will give children the final say if their parents want to withdraw them from religious observance in schools.

The legislation is designed to give children a stronger voice in decisions around their participation in faith-based school events.

It means that when a parent or carer requests that a child be withdrawn from religious observance, the school will need to inform the pupil, and if they object to being taken out, the school will respect the pupil's wishes.

Chris Ringland from the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland told Premier he has some concerns around the changes:

“I think it's really positive to give children that opportunity to remain part of religious observance, and to have the opportunity to discuss that and to be listened to. But I think the precedent that it sets is our main concern around parents, carers and families and the ultimate kind of primary responsibility for upbringing their Children.”

Scottish Labour education spokesperson Paul O’Kane described the Bill as “chaotic and rushed bill” and said it was a “muddled halfway house that pleases nobody".

“We cannot tear up the rules of our education system without thinking through the consequences and about maintaining the trust of parents," he said.

Defending the Bill, Scotland’s Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “This bill strengthens the protection and promotion of children’s rights in education, as well as those of their parents and carers. It builds on the wider progress we have made around the human rights of children and young people, while also ensuring parents continue to have a say on the religious elements of their child’s education.”

The Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill was passed in a final stage-three vote in the Scottish Parliament. MSPs were in favour by 66 votes to 51, with seven abstentions.