Lords discuss exclusion of Religious Studies from Baccalaureate

Houses of Parliament

The consequences of leaving out Religious Studies from the core list of subjects in the new English Baccalaureate were discussed in the House of Lords yesterday.

Echoing the grave concerns of numerous faith groups, 135,000 members of the public and 106 MPs, Lord Anderson of Swansea asked Lord Hill of Oareford, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools:

“My Lords, surely the inevitable consequence of the exclusion of religious studies as an examination subject in the English Baccalaureate will be its downgrading and increasing marginalisation. Is that what the Government intend?”

Lord Anderson then went on to explore a compromise made in last week’s Westminster Hall debate of the possibility of students being given the option of two-out-of-three subjects for the humanities component of the English baccalaureate. “That means two out of history, geography and the very popular and rigorous religious studies.”

Head Teachers have questioned the viability of this option, saying this would add another subject to the existing compulsory eight subjects (taking on board the six subjects of the Ebacc and compulsory PE and PSHE), and means there will be no time for students to study subjects such as music or IT.

One Head Teacher commented: “It’s totally unworkable as it will add another subject to an already packed list of subjects. The only real solution is to have a subject option of one out of three, which includes Religious Studies.”

Lord Elton emphasised the importance of RS to the Government: “Can my noble friend think of any time in history when an understanding between different faiths was more crucial to the future of world peace?”

The Government are reviewing the contents of the Baccalaureate and will make its decision clear before the Summer Recess.

To read the full text in Hansard see: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/110524-0001.htm#11052476000595

Source Premier Christian Media/ICN