"Sunday School" is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays (traditionally, though not exclusively, in the morning) by various Christian denominations. A reaction to these schools was the Socialist Sunday Schools movement which began in the United Kingdom in the late 19th century.

It had its origins in July 1780, in the work of Robert Raikes editor of Gloucester Journal, who saw the need to prevent children in the slums descending into crime. By 1831, Sunday School in Great Britain was ministering weekly to 1,250,000 children, approximately 25 percent of the population.

Most Protestant churches operate Sunday Schools. Sunday Schools, contrary to the name, are virtually never recognized educational institutions; rather than offering formal grades or transcripts, Sunday Schools simply attempt to offer meaningful instruction concerning Christian doctrine and keep little or no record of performance for any given week. Attendance is

Sunday School often takes the form of a one hour Bible study which can occur before, during, or after a church service. While many Sunday Schools are focused on providing instruction for children (especially those occurring during service times), adult Sunday School classes are also popular and widespread.

Sunday School teachers are usually lay people who are selected for their job by a church board, normally because of their advanced experience with the Bible—few teachers receive any formal training in education, though many Sunday School teachers have a background in education as a result of their occupations.

Hebrew schools also usually operate on Sundays.

See also

• Socialist Sunday Schools
• Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (a form of Catholic religious education)
• Religious ministry (Christian)
• Youth Ministry
• Vacation Bible School בית ספר של יום ראשון

日曜学校 主日學