Religious Studies GCSE sees highest entries in 14 years

The number of pupils in England and Wales who were entered for the full course GCSE in Religious Studies (RS) has reached its highest since 2002.

2016 saw 284,057 entries for the subject, which represents an increase of 0.1 per cent compared to 2015.

The Religious Education Council of England and Wales has praised the rise in entries, which has been achieved despite RS being left out of the Ebacc performance measure.

However, while full course entries show a positive trend, there were only 71,299 entries for the short course in GCSE RS, which represents a decline of 17.7 per cent compared to 2015.

Commenting on the figures, Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, chief executive of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales, said: "While it is fantastic to see increasing numbers of students opting to take the full course GCSE in Religious Studies, a reflection of the attraction of an academically rigorous subject that helps prepare students to understand an increasingly diverse modern world, we should not ignore the troubling news that declining entries for the short course mean that more than 100,000 fewer young people have studied the subject at GCSE level this year than in 2010.

“It is dangerous for there to be increasing numbers of young people missing the opportunity to develop their understanding of the full diversity of faiths and beliefs. More than ever, as our society becomes increasingly multicultural and religious extremism continues to dominate the news agenda, we need young people to be religiously literate. We need them to become skilled intercultural navigators, and good Religious Education is a key part of that.”