NEU comments on the Commission for Religious Education: A national plan for RE

Commenting on the report, Religion and World Views the Way Forward, Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary, National Education Union, said:

“We welcome this report as the beginning of a much-needed conversation about the place of religious education in our schools and colleges. We know that the pressures on schools to narrow their curriculum and focus on limited, tested subjects, alongside the shortage of teachers with the appropriate subject knowledge, make it difficult to focus on religious education

“It is important for pupils to have the opportunity to learn about faiths and beliefs, and to understand how these impact on how people see the world and on their actions. RE is a vital academic subject, providing important knowledge as well as the tools to think critically and ask questions.

“Whatever the subject is called, we believe it needs a coherent curriculum, commitment to ensure it is taught within a broad and balanced curriculum in all schools, and teachers with the knowledge and skills to teach the subject critically and sensitively.”