More school students than ever before — nearly half a million — took public examinations in religious studies (RS) this year. The publication of last week’s GCSE results showed that more than 179,000 sat the full RS course, and almost 294,000 took the short RS course, which counts for half a GCSE. Earlier in the month, 20,100 students who took A-level RS received their results.
While overall there has been a drop in the numbers of 16- and 18-year-olds taking GCSE and A levels, the number choosing religious studies continues to rise. More than 20,000 sixth-formers’ choosing A-level RS represents a rise of almost six per cent on last year’s total, the fifth successive annual increase.
The huge number of students opting to take the GCSE short course in year 11 — 55 per cent of all GCSE candidates — coincides with the tenth anniversary of the creation of the examination. Short-course candidates have almost trebled since 1998.
Its success could be said to have vindicated the campaign for the qualification fought by Jeremy Taylor, then chairman of the Professional Council for RE. Now the director of education for Chichester diocese, and chairman of the Church of England RE strategy committee, Mr Taylor says: “It was what was needed. All pupils have to study RE, and, to raise standards, the government curriculum watchdog had introduced model syllabuses. The short-course qualification was needed as a focus, and as a recognition of students’ work.”
The examination was tailored to appeal to the interests of 15- and 16-year-olds, says Mr Taylor, with a strong ethical component touching issues such as euthanasia, war and peace, the environment, and the purpose of the universe. “From these starting points, students are encouraged to engage with what Christianity and one other religion teach,” says Mr Taylor.
Fears among some professionals that the introduction of the half course would undermine the full GCSE in religious studies have proved groundless, since the full course has also grown. Overall, RS has seen a greater rise in popularity than any other subject, and is now the most popular examination subject after English, maths, and science
Student performance in RS is also high, with one in four of those taking GCSE awarded an A or A*. At A level, 81 per cent of candidates were awarded A-C grades. |
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