A level grades for religious studies are good, but numbers are down
by Hattie Williams, Church Times:
RELIGIOUS education bodies have expressed deep concern over a 20 per cent drop in the number of students taking A-levels in religious studies in the UK. A-level results were published on Thursday.
More than 20,000 students took A-level exams in religious studies this year — 2.5 per cent of the total number of students — down from more than 26,000 (3.1 per cent of the total) the previous year. (Numbers overall were down, though certain other subjects showed a growth in students.) As last year, most of the religious studies candidates were female: 14,690 compared with 5837 males.
The National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE) expressed concern at the decline, on Thursday. Its chair, Ben Wood, said: “This devastating fall has been expected given successive policy decisions that have failed to maintain and support the position of RS as part of a broad and balanced curriculum.
“RS A level is an excellent preparation for both further study and for entering the world of work. It is a subject that helps young people gain access to a wide range of degree courses, and it is valued by employers, with the subject matter and approach of an RS A level helping to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to succeed in modern Britain.”
The chief executive of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales (REC), Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, agreed that the drop was “deeply concerning” and called for urgent action.
The Commission on Religious Education is due to publish its final report next month. “I hope that the Government will be keen to take heed of its recommendations and work with us to secure the future of high quality education about religions and belief in this country,” he said.
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