Should i take religious studies gcse

Last year the independent Commission on Religious Education offered proposals for how to secure the future of religious education that had widespread support from stakeholders across education. It is time that the Government engages fully with the recommendations and for it to take action to support high quality religious education for all pupils in all schools. As former education secretary and architect of the original GCSE, Lord Kenneth Baker, pointed out earlier this week, the narrowing of the curriculum is a damaging trend that the current Government needs to urgently address before it leads to a generation of young people whose education and prospects are severely weakened.

I hope that the hard work, study and revision have paid off for you. For thousands of young people, GCSE Religious Studies provides an invaluable opportunity to learn about, consider and debate many important and pertinent questions, preparing them for adult life in a diverse and complex world. However, too many pupils do not receive the teaching they need and deserve. Over half a million young people every year do not take a GCSE in Religious Studies, and while some schools do offer alternative provision, too many schools simply fail to meet their statutory duty to provide their students with RE.

Research indicates that over half of secondary schools without a religious character fail to provide RE at KS4, and that this lack of provision is more pronounced in schools with higher numbers of disadvantaged students.

It is not fair that so many young people are not given the full breadth of education they require, and we call on the government to take stronger action in ensuring that all schools provide high quality RE for all of their students.

More information. Find out more. Our GCSE covers a range of the major world religions , six contemporary ethical themes and two textual studies, ensuring you and your students have a diverse choice of intriguing subjects to explore.

Students will be challenged with questions about belief, values, meaning, purpose and truth, enabling them to develop their own attitudes towards religious issues. Students will also gain an appreciation of how religion, philosophy and ethics form the basis of our culture.

They will develop analytical and critical thinking skills, the ability to work with abstract ideas, leadership and research skills. All these skills will help prepare them for further study. You can find out all about our Religious Studies A qualification at aqa. Visit aqa. They include:. The Commission, which picked up many of these recommendations in its interim report last year, is due to publish its final report in the Autumn. RE is one of the most important subjects that schools teach and vital to fulfilling its duty to promote British values and the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural SMSC development of their pupils.

If the decline in GCSE RS is to be halted, more attention has to be paid to reflecting this diversity and including the perspectives of the non-religious majority. We hope these figures prompt the Government to look urgently at how they can save a subject that is simply too valuable to squander in this way.

At Humanists UK, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. Our work brings non-religious people together to develop their own views, helping people be happier and more fulfilled in the one life we have. Through our ceremonies, education services, and community and campaigning work, we strive to create a fair and equal society for all.

Sign up as a supporter and we'll keep you up to date by email about all of our work for a fair and equal society. Click here to see our Privacy Policy. Home View Full Site Close. Remember me. Our campaigns ». Faith schools.