Why is RE GCSE COMPULSORY???

[Melondramatic]

Dd just got her choices. And RE is a core subject!! How ridiculous

It's not but they have to do some RE up to year 11, so a lot of schools think they might as well.
Mine do a half GCSE in year 10. It's quite a good idea as it gives them an experience of a GCSE without the pressure.

Wasn't compulsory in my school, I chose it as an option and it was one of the most interesting subjects I did (and an easy A lol) we got to debate topics such as abortion and look at things from the point of view of different religions. Taught me to think about things, devise opinions, argue them and learned about how other people thought. Frankly, I think it should be compulsory! Unfortunately I don't think it's always taught well, it's a topic at the mercy of a good passionate teacher. I know now in my old school it's an "add on" for other staff to absorb into their role rather than for an experienced RE teacher, they don't fund it anymore.

Your dd might learn to be more open minded and less biased than you are

Hilarious

RE is statutory - schools have a legal obligation to teach it. Doing a GCSE is not compulsory but the school has made the decision to get a qualification out of the curriculum time that they are obliged to use for the subject. It can be frustrating when you/your child value other subjects more highly but can also be very interesting if well taught.

A huge proportion of people in the world identify as having a faith of some kind and religion is a very real factor in world affairs. RE is not religious instruction (what to believe) but focuses on what people of different religions believe and how it informs their actions. My own opinion is that it is one of the more important subjects taught in school in terms of being applicable to real life.

No, it's not compulsory for GCSE, IME (all my DC are at independent schools). And it doesn't require 'opting out'. It's a choice, like all the other subjects. As it should be.

You really are Melo(n)dramatic OP.
facepalm

Ok, from what people are saying, it might be less rubbish than i imagined. Dd has hated RE so far in years 7-9. I was all for withdrawing her, but she didnt want the fuss

My dcs have all done RE gcse and two of them did A level. It's a fascinating subject and covers a lot of philosophy, ethics as well as religion. We aren't a particularly religious family, dh is a vocal atheist. I think you are being very closed minded.

And FYI I was an atheist, your own religious (or none) beliefs have nothing to do with learning about other people. It's like saying it's pointless non-haemophiliacs learning about it in genetics for biology? Why do Brits learn about the holocaust? Why would homosexuals study Romeo and Juliet? Etc etc...

When DD1 did RE short course it was questions like 'Is suicide always wrong?'

You had to answer with e.g.

Christian believe suicide is ….. because they believe …… One of the commandments is …..
However Satanists believe …. because ….
In my opinion suicide is ….. because …..

It was relatively straightforward if you knew the main beliefs of religions and had some opinions yourself.

Stufying RE to GCSE age is compulsory. Taking the exam isn't. Some schools make the exam compulsory because if you've studied it you might as well do the exam. Other schools interpret the study very widely. It's a good and interesting subject. I still think history or politics would be a better choice for a compulsory subject but I don't object to RE.

I sympathise if she doesn't enjoy it, I would challenge the teacher, question what is covered, see how they can make it more enjoyable. It's a subject that can be done in so many ways and made interactive. As I say I don't think it's always resourced well...but if the school isn't challenged it won't change.

Im not closed minded in the slightest. I understand it is not religious instruction. I can see it would be interesting to some people. I found it very boring at school. Dd does too. I dont understand why it is COMPULSORY. Its no more useful/interesting than any of the other subjects that are not compulsory.

I agree TeenTimesTwo

DD had to do Citizenship GCSE. She hated it. They had to do group work, and she was let down by the other girl (there were two of them) who didn't do any work at all. Therefore she only got a D in her coursework, but aced the exam and ended up with an overall B.

Dd wasn’t too keen on RE in KS3 but swapped from another option to that in Y10 and got an A*. Lots of heated debating.

FWIW, one of mine rejected RE GCSE, but is now doing A level. He tried to talk another into doing GCSE, but it has fallen on deaf ears. One of mine (day school) is doing a compulsory non-examined course involving philosophy/religion/ethics until the end of Year 11.

None of them has an option to do a GCSE in PE, thank goodness. They just do a lot of compulsory PE.

It's been compulsory since Margaret Thatcher.

Did you not research this when you chose the school?
Re is v useful for philosophy and ethics and other subjects like history. It’s also useful for debating skills.
I’m a teacher btw.

7-9 is often a fairly basic study of key world religions taught by non specialists who aren't equipped to engage in the really interesting questions kids often have so by y9 they are totally turned off. Please have a look at the gcse syllabus your DD will be studying. I'm an atheist RS teacher who has taken probably thousands of kids of all faiths and none through various iterations of the syllabus and loads of them went from reluctant foot draggers to doing it well at A level. Not converted to religious faith but fascinated by the anthropogical and ethical questions raised.

Have you looked at the syllabus ? I'm an RE teacher in a non faith school and an atheist (many of us are). We look at ethics: abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, cloning, fertility treatment, organ donation, human rights, the list goes on. With my 10's I'm currently looking at extremism and radicalisation which is included on the new GCSE and is part of the Prevent strategy. With my 9's we're debating the pros and cons of capital punishment and my 11's have been studying whether War can ever be justified.
It's not a GCSE in fairies, atheist and Humanist views have to be included, the Humanist society actually went to court over this so the views of Dawkins, Hitchens and Hawking are just as relevant as those of believers.

Have you actually asked the school whether it's compulsory?

I ask this because one of our local secondary schools is funded by a Christian group. It's not one where church goers get priority etc, it's just the way the school is funded and run. About 30% of the children who attend are Muslim and other faiths and aethists make up the rest.

Their prospectus says that RE is compulsory to GCSE but when I emailed to ask specifically, they replied that parents had the right to withdraw their child from collective worship and/or RE as per the legal position and their policy.

It would be worth contacting the school solely about this issue and asking for clarity.

FWIW, my child doesn't have any faith, but I would be very happy for him to participate in collective worship and do GCSE RE if he wanted to.

Yes bertrand i agree, history or politics. The school is offering 'Classical Civilisations' as a CHOICE (or studies or something). Its the basis of Western civilisation

Also, absolutely no African History anywhere on the timetable

Modern RE contains a lot of politics. Have you looked at the syllabus?

RE to age 16 certainly wasn't compulsory when I was at school in the 1980s - I couldn't wait to give it up once I was 14 and could choose my subjects.

Modern RE bears little resemblance to the RE lessons of the past.