This article argues that engagement with religion is a key challenge for all leaders of schools in twenty‐first‐century multifaith societies. It outlines the historic and current context of the UK and the Republic of Ireland, and national and European policies that prioritise community cohesion in education. The functional and substantive roles of religion are considered as reflected in education, where they adjudicate power and shape values and behaviours. The article analyses data from nine schools in England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland to provide a snapshot of a range of leaders’ philosophies, policies and practice in relation to religion. The preferential attention and resources given to the dominant community are evident in some cases. It is argued that, irrespective of whether a school is affiliated to a specific religion or not, school leaders have some freedom in positioning religion. Their influence significantly shapes how religion and/or secular values are understood and enacted. The article concludes by suggesting that policy at national and European level that emphasises shared identities and community cohesion masks the differential power and struggles between communities that cannot be resolved by anodyne exhortation. Rather, leaders need to be selected, trained and supported to recognise the centrality of belief in the lives of many of their learners and their families and to engage with the inevitability of ongoing disagreement and struggle.

中文翻译：

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21世纪的关键领导问题：英格兰，威尔士和爱尔兰共和国的学校宗教

本文认为，与宗教接触是二十一世纪多信仰社会中所有学校领导者面临的主要挑战。它概述了英国和爱尔兰共和国的历史和当前背景，以及优先考虑社区凝聚力教育的国家和欧洲政策。宗教的功能性和实质性作用被认为反映在教育中，在宗教中他们可以判断力量，塑造价值观和行为。这篇文章分析了英格兰，威尔士和爱尔兰共和国九所学校的数据，以概述领导人在宗教方面的哲学，政策和实践。在某些情况下，对优势社区的优先关注和资源显而易见。有人认为，不论学校是否隶属于某种宗教，学校领导者在宗教信仰定位上有一些自由。他们的影响力显着影响了如何理解和制定宗教和/或世俗价值观。本文最后提出，国家和欧洲层面强调共同身份和社区凝聚力的政策掩盖了不能通过止痛药劝告解决的社区之间的差别力量和斗争。相反，需要选拔，培训和支持领导人，以认识到信仰对他们许多学习者及其家庭生活的重要性，并应对持续存在的分歧和斗争的必然性。本文最后提出，国家和欧洲层面强调共同身份和社区凝聚力的政策掩盖了不能通过止痛药劝告解决的社区之间的差别力量和斗争。相反，需要选拔，培训和支持领导人，以认识到信仰对他们许多学习者及其家庭生活的重要性，并应对持续存在的分歧和斗争的必然性。本文最后提出，国家和欧洲层面强调共同身份和社区凝聚力的政策掩盖了不能通过止痛药劝告解决的社区之间的差别力量和斗争。相反，需要选拔，培训和支持领导人，以认识到信仰对他们许多学习者及其家庭生活的重要性，并应对持续存在的分歧和斗争的必然性。