Religious Education should be broadened to Religion and Worldviews, commission finds

Agnosticism, atheism, humanism and secularism or incorporated into teaching, the Commission on Religious Education document recommends.

The body – which comprises 14 top academics, advisers and teachers – warns RE is not good enough in helping youngsters engage with different beliefs.

Chair, the Dean of Westminster Very Rev Dr John Hall said: “Life in Britain, indeed life in our world, is very different from life in the 1970s when religious education began to include other world religions and beliefs besides Christianity.

“At present, the quality of religious education in too many schools is inadequate in enabling pupils to engage deeply with the worldviews they will encounter.

“Many structural changes in education in the past 20 years have unintentionally undermined the integrity of RE in the school curriculum.

“The commission is proposing a fresh start for the subject with a vision for the teaching of Religion and Worldviews in every school.”

Following a two year consultation, the Commission proposes a new National Entitlement setting out a minimum level of teaching students in all schools can expect.

Rev Stephen Terry from the Accord Coalition for Inclusive Education said the Commission had shown insight to recognise Religious Education must be updated.

He told Premier: “Religious Education is governed by structures…