Secondary teachers at one school in Leicester could be rewarded for their approach to teaching religious education.
The Guardian notes that Crown Hills school has been shortlisted on the inaugural Accord prize for diversity of beliefs, following the secondary teachers' introduction of humanism and atheism on the syllabus.
Crown Hills has a predominantly Muslim student body, but religious education lessons are designed to inspire children to also consider the position of atheists and humanists.
Phrases such as "science has disproved God" are reportedly used to stimulate debate on the matter.
Religious studies teacher Liz Hewitt told the newspaper: "[The pupils] will meet a broader range of people when they leave Crown Hills. These kinds of debate mean they can talk about faith in a more informed way."
The aim of the lessons is not to challenge beliefs, headteacher of the school Bernadette Green added.
Other schools in regions across the country have adopted similar methods to encourage pupils to discuss key issues surrounding religion, beliefs and morality.
Accord is a coalition of organisations including human rights campaigners, religious groups and trade unions.
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