Parental choice/rights?

I have been asked by a friend (who knows I home school and therefore expects me 'to be up to spead on education law'???) if they (the parents) can withdraw their son from a proposed school visit to a mosque. I don't know the answer and have been searching with no result so I wondered if anyone here could direct me to some information I can print off for my friend etc. The parents have no particular ambivilant feelings towards mosques as such and would feel the same if their son were going to St. Pauls Cathedral, the local Catholic chapel, Baptist church or whatever. This is in England UK.

Sorry I thought I was putting this in Education but somehow it jumped categories???

*Is Catholic*

I do not know about law in Brittan but in the US the parents would have the authority to keep their children from any and all field trips.

If a parental concent form for the field trip is given, the I would simply suggest that the parent refuse to sign it. The existence of the parental consent form is an indication that British Law requires the permission of the parent for field trips.

If parental concent forms are not given for field trips, then that is an indication that British Law does not require permission from the parent. If that is the case, then I would suggest that the parent either call the school (not giving their name or the field trip) and ask if the school has an opt out policy for field trips, OR the parent simply have the child "be sick" for that day especially if the school does not have an opt out policy. Either way, I recommend that the parent not give a detailed reason for not wishing for the child to attend. Simply say that they are exercising parental rights. That way accusations of racism/intolerance can be avoided and the child is not put in a situation that would make them uncomfortable.

I beleive you can withdraw your child from any and all field trips you as the parent feel you do not want your child to participate in

Why dont they just keep him home "sick" that day?