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Religious Education in England - A Unique Opportunity and Challenge |
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John Keast, Chair of the Religious Education Council, October 2011
Three previous papers have described the critical situation which RE
in England has faced over the past eighteen months, and outlined the threats to
RE arising from the contextual, legal, curriculum and qualifications changes
taking place in English education. This paper argues that the critical issues
RE faces actually present it with a unique opportunity to develop a new and
positive way forward for the subject that is both exciting but challenging.
Failure to grasp this opportunity will set RE back by decades; a co-operative
endeavour will provide the basis for future stability and greater success.
A critical but not fatal
situation for RE in 2011 |
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Statement from REC Chair on Collective Worship
The Religious Education Council (REC) of England and Wales believes collective worship has played an important role in schools, following the requirements set out in 1944 (and amended in 1988). The requirements for collective worship as a school activity are both different and distinct from the requirements regarding RE in the curriculum.
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Concern in light of exam numbers |
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RE Council expresses its concern in light of exam numbers
Religious
Education is vital to a healthy society RE experts argued this week as
GCSE results showed an 8 per cent fall* in numbers taking the short
course version of the subject following its exclusion from the EBac, in
contrast to a 17 per cent increase* in pupils taking the full course
they would have begun before the EBac was introduced.
The drop in numbers is for the course which is the compulsory minimum
whilst the rise is for the course that students generally choose. This
means whilst students are more interested than ever before in matters
of religion and belief, government policy is set to severely reduce the
chances that every student will leave school properly educated in this
vital area. |
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Statement: A Level results. |
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The Religious Education Council congratulates all those students who have achieved their Religious Studies A Level grades today and wishes them well in their future studies and careers.
This year 18,463 students sat the A Level RS examination in England –increases of 4.3% on the previous year and 31.2% since 2005. Standards continue to rise with 80.4% of students gaining A* - C (the prime benchmark) – an increase of 2.2% on last year. Clearly Religious Studies has continued to grow and flourish at A Level.
The Russell Group of universities recognise Religious Studies as a subject which provides suitable preparation for entry to university generally. The only reason it has not been included in their list of facilitating subjects appears to be because, like Economics and Law, it is not an “essential” requirement for entry to any particular university course. |
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Impact of government policy on RE |
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The latest survey by NATRE showing the reaction of some 2000 secondary schools and academies to the current EBacc proposals is now available. The full text can be accessed here along with the accompanying Press Statement and some additional evidence.
An analysis of a Survey of teachers on GCSE change and RE in light of the EBacc changes
Additional Information
Press Release 24 June 2011
Latest Press Coverage |
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