RE 'being squeezed out of schools'

The introduction of the English baccalaureate means that religion is being put on the backburner in many schools.

This is according to the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education, who claim that RE is not being taught to pupils between the ages of 14 and 16 in a quarter of state schools.

Deborah Weston, an RE teacher and executive member of the organisation, commented: "People have been emailing their individual stories of teachers being made redundant, being made to teach other subjects and of successful departments with good results being closed."

The new English baccalaureate qualification is awarded to students who gain an A* to C-grade in core academic subjects including maths and science.

A spokesman for the Department for Education said religion remains a vital part of the school curriculum, adding that it is down to schools to decide how it is taught and how it fits into wider school life.

Posted by Dolcie Thacker

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