A new report by a group of MPs has found that almost half of those teaching Religious Education (RE) in secondary schools have no qualifications in the subject.
The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Religious Education also revealed that one in four primary school children were being taught by a teaching assistant. “This is unacceptable and in many cases has a detrimental impact on the quality of RE”, the report concluded.
About half of RE teachers lack confidence in teaching the subject, whilst 40 per cent have “inadequate access to continuing professional development.”
Detrimental
Stephen Lloyd, the Liberal Democrat chair of the committee, said that a number of government policies, including the decision exclude RE from the English Baccalaureate, had “ served to lower” the status of the subject.
He added: “It is illogical to think that we can dilute the professionalism and expertise needed to teach RE well and still have a generation of young people that understand and are sensitive to the growing levels of religious and non-religious diversity in our society.”
Rev Jan Ainsworth, the Church of England's Chief Education Officer, said that the report should act as a “wake up call” to Education Secretary, Michael Gove.
Downgraded
He added: "This provides strong evidence for our continuing concern that RE is being downgraded as part of the curriculum.
“RE is about religious literacy for all, growing understanding of the importance of faith, especially in this country, built on Christian values, to the lives of individuals and communities."
The report has urged the Department of Health to require all secondary teachers to receive some training in any subject they teach, and to restore bursaries for RE trainees.
The APPG on RE includes committed Christian MP Fiona Bruce and was set up to safeguard and promote the teaching of RE in schools.
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