The school's Parents & Citizens Committee says 90 of the school's 600 pupils don't go to the scripture classes.

P&C vice-president Sarah Flynn said these 90 weren't allowed to use the time for alternative learning, according to NSW Department of Education policy.

The policy prohibits children who don't go to scripture from taking part in formal learning (specifically not in the area of ethics, values, civics or general religious education) during time allocated to scripture classes.

Mrs Flynn said pupils weren't even allowed to do their homework in that time.

``It's a very old directive rooted in the idea that the department doesn't want children who are doing scripture to miss out on any other opportunities,'' Mrs Flynn said.

``But at the same time, this means that children who aren't doing scripture aren't allowed to do anything.''

The committee has partnered independent organisation St James Ethics Centre and has made a submission to the Education Minister, Verity Firth, for permission to take part in a pilot moral and ethics-based program.

The secular program would be aimed at those whose denominations may not be catered for by the school or who may not want religious-based directive, and would reinforce core values such as truth and justice.

Mrs Flynn said those now studying scripture (Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, Hindu, Ba'hai or Muslim) could choose to attend the ethics class if their teacher was absent.

If the Department of Education approves the idea, the school will send a teacher or volunteer to study with Professor Philip Cam, an expert in philosophical inquiry for children, at the University of NSW in 2010.

The 10-week trial for 50 students in years 5 and 6 would be held in term two.

The committee also hopes for an amendment to department policy, which the executive director of the St James Ethics Centre, Simon Longstaff, described as ``socially unjust''.

``All children should be entitled to ethical exploration, with its associated social and mental health benefits, regardless of their parents' personal belief system,'' Dr Longstaff said.

Mrs Flynn agrees.

``As a child who was not in the scripture system, I found it quite isolating,'' she said.

``You are put in a side room or you're told just to sit outside and wait.

``It's an archaic system and it's not making their learning experience worthwhile.''