Tags: Religious education
It's time to move on from religious education
Posted: Tue, 17 Aug 2021 by Keith Sharpe
RE has become a subject in search of a purpose. There are better approaches to learning about the diversity of beliefs, and better uses of time than using outdated legislation to perpetuate it, says Keith Sharpe. Read More »
Schools aren’t there to save the church
Posted: Thu, 22 Jul 2021 by Stephen Evans
The Church of England's new evangelical missional strategy should lead us to question its entitlement to proselytise in schools, argues Stephen Evans. Read More »
Schools must be supported against religious bullies
Posted: Wed, 07 Jul 2021 by Alastair Lichten
Comments from Ofsted's chief inspector highlight the need to help schools resist efforts to shut down teaching which reactionary religious groups deem controversial, says Alastair Lichten. Read More »
Requires improvement: Ofsted review shows need for a major rethink on RE
Posted: Wed, 02 Jun 2021 by Alastair Lichten
A review has highlighted significant problems with the way RE is taught. Alastair Lichten argues that it shows the need to ask fundamental questions about the purpose of education about religion. Read More »
RE shouldn’t be a vehicle for the Church of England’s interests
Posted: Thu, 17 Dec 2020 by Chris Selway
A new study of a widely-used set of RE resources illustrates the way powerful groups control the subject to accommodate the evangelical mission of the Church of England, says Chris Selway. Read More »
Why can't Ofsted stop state schools preaching that same-sex relationships are wrong?
Posted: Thu, 25 Jun 2020 by Megan Manson
As the government considers ways to end 'gay conversion therapy' it should give Ofsted the power to stop faith schools fostering anti-LGBT attitudes in the first place, says Megan Manson. Read More »
Will Wales lead the way in reforming Religious Education?
Posted: Tue, 02 Jun 2020 by Stephen Evans
The Welsh government's plans to reform RE risk being a missed opportunity for more radical reform of the way we approach religion in schools, argues Stephen Evans. Read More »
The 1944 Education Act was a landmark law – but let’s reconsider the privileges it granted to religion
Posted: Wed, 18 Dec 2019 by Keith Sharpe
Three-quarters of a century ago an enduring piece of legislation secured free education for all – but gave churches substantial control over schools in return. Keith Sharpe says this settlement needs updating. Read More »
This isn’t the time to end the right to withdraw from RE in Wales
Posted: Thu, 14 Nov 2019 by Alastair Lichten
The Welsh government is considering removing the parental right to withdraw from religious education. Alastair Lichten argues that despite potential benefits, reforms don't go far enough to justify ending this longstanding right. Read More »
New guidance on the right to withdraw from RE in Wales – response
Posted: Wed, 06 Jun 2018 by Alastair Lichten
New guidance on managing parents' right to withdraw their children from religious education in Wales is largely common sense, says Alastair Lichten. But it downplays the confessional nature of some RE teaching.
The right to withdraw from RE is a difficult area... Read More »
The row over right of withdrawal highlights the need to reform RE
Posted: Fri, 13 Apr 2018 by Stephen Evans
Teachers from the ATL union have voted to demand a clampdown on parents selectively withdrawing their children from RE. But Stephen Evans says the right to withdraw should only be scrapped once the subject is reformed.
A teaching union warned recently that... Read More »
Big ideas for religious education?
Posted: Thu, 23 Nov 2017 by Alastair Lichten
The latest report into the problems with religious education reiterates the need to start with a fundamental examination of the subject's purpose. But, Alastair Lichten wonders, do the proposals go far enough?
The Commission on RE is currently consulting on... Read More »
Who controls religious education?
Posted: Thu, 16 Nov 2017 by Stephen Evans
Necessary reforms of religious education are being frustrated by religion's lingering influence. It's time to liberate RE from the vested interests, argues Stephen Evans.
Religious education in England faces "a perilous future" unless it is subject to "strategic,... Read More »
Never mind joining SACREs, we should be abolishing them
Posted: Fri, 21 Jul 2017 by Keith Sharpe
A parent's legal challenge to the exclusion of a humanist representative from the local body responsible for overseeing religious education highlights the need for urgent reform of this contested area of the curriculum, argues Keith Sharpe.
A humanist parent... Read More »
Why we need a 21st century RE for all
Posted: Wed, 17 May 2017 by Stephen Evans
2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the Education Reform Act 1988 which saw the introduction of a national curricular entitlement for all pupils. One subject alone remains set apart from this - religious education.
What gets taught in religious education is... Read More »
What do pupils need to know about religion?
Posted: Tue, 02 Aug 2016 by Stephen Evans
In recent years faith communities have amplified their demands for a better understanding of religion in the private and public sector. But what do pupils need to know about religion by the time they leave school?
In recent years faith communities have amplified... Read More »
Religious education reform: mistakes of the past must be avoided
Posted: Fri, 04 Dec 2015 by Alastair Lichten
Despite many RE teachers doing their best under difficult circumstances, a growing consensus now recognises that religious education in schools needs a rethink. Alastair Lichten looks at the latest report calling for reform.
This week saw the launch of REforReal... Read More »
Let Ofsted inspect religious education in faith schools
Posted: Wed, 09 Sep 2015 by Stephen Evans
Religious education should receive the same scrutiny as any other area of the curriculum – and be inspected by Ofsted, argues Stephen Evans.
I recently came across a local newspaper headline about a school being praised for its religious education. As... Read More »
Let’s stop confusing education with religious inculcation
Posted: Fri, 03 Apr 2015 by Stephen Evans
The blurring of the distinction between education and religious inculcation in British schools is preventing young people from receiving good quality objective education about religion and belief, argues Stephen Evans.
The Supreme Court of Canada recently ruled... Read More »
Government’s GCSE subject content review is another missed opportunity
Posted: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 by Stephen Evans
The Government's proposal to reform the religious studies GCSE subject content falls far short of what's really needed, argues Stephen Evans.
The Department for Education is currently consulting on its proposed subject content for religious studies GCSE and... Read More »
A contested subject: religious education and faith schools
Posted: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 by Alastair Lichten
Reports of a Cabinet row over plans to require faith schools to teach more than one religion at GCSE level show that even baby steps towards greater objectivity in religious education will face fierce opposition, argues Alastair Lichten.
Secularists have had... Read More »
The RE Report – A missed opportunity
Posted: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 by Keith Porteous Wood
The RE Council's report has been well received. However, with the decline in church attendance and increasing evangelism in schools, Keith Porteous Wood argues vital opportunities to reform RE have been missed.
The Religious Education Council Report is a missed... Read More »
How do we keep religious education out of the hands of the evangelists?
Posted: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 by Terry Sanderson
How can schools tell children about religion in a way that is fair, objective, unbiased and, most important, doesn't close them off to alternatives?
How do we best explain to them that while some religious believers find comfort in their faith — as well... Read More »
Education for Choice launch report into abortion education in UK schools
Posted: Tue, 05 Feb 2013 by Education for Choice
Guest post by Education for Choice
Our new report 'Abortion Education in the UK: Failing our young people?' reveals the extent of poor-quality education on the topic of abortion.
Some teachers and external speakers delivering lessons on abortion have been found... Read More »
Religious education GCSE will lose its appeal when the exam is toughened up
Posted: Fri, 03 Feb 2012 by Keith Porteous Wood
The Churches love to tell us how "popular" religious studies are in schools. Keith Porteous Wood suspects the popularity may have more to do with the course being ridiculously easy, rather than any desire for a deeper understanding of religion.
The Churches... Read More »
