Schools should have special "quiet rooms" to help pupils deal with stress, a religious think tank has said.

The Scottish Inter Faith Council said pupils "should be encouraged to appreciate silence and be given moments of stillness to find their inner stability".

It also called for non-denominational schools to stop holding services in Christian churches, particularly when most pupils were not churchgoers.

The ecumenical body made the comments in a submission to the Education Committee of the Scottish Parliament which is holding an investigation into the purposes of education.

Children need a "moment of stillness"

The submission said: "More should be done to teach pupils in our schools stillness and relaxation techniques.

It said "moments of stillness" would teach children how to reflect on the experience and what meaning it might have for them.

"All this is necessary if pupils are to grow spiritually and learn how to live healthily and happily in our complex and often stressful society.

"This approach to stillness and silence would be helped if each school community had a quiet room to which pupils could retreat for some space and relaxation."

Human values

The submission said such rooms would need to be supervised by "appropriate professionals", such as teachers, therapists or counsellors.

It said they could "help pupils, especially those under particular pressures, relax and cope with the exigencies of their reality".

It added: "It would also be possible for this sacred space to be used by those pupils who are required by their religion to pray at certain times throughout the day."

The submission also called for a change in the law to replace religious observance in non-denominational schools with an assembly to reflect on "human values".

It said: "This could be similar to the time for reflection that takes place at the Scottish Parliament."

And it added: "We feel it would not be productive or respectful for non-denominational schools to be holding services of worship in Christian churches, particularly when the majority of children are not churchgoers."

The education committee announced its investigation on March 20 - the same day that Education Minister Cathy Jamieson launched the executive's national debate on education.