Why is RE GCSE COMPULSORY???

[Melondramatic]

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

"Thats why my DD1 did it as there was no other option and no room for manoeuvre. She got an E in it."
Shot hetself in the foot there, didn't she?

So children can learn and understand the different religions and cultures, which is very important in such a connected world?!?

Getting an E in it is actually fairly hard to do I would think. You'd have to have absolutely not enagaed or done any homework at all to get an E at gcse

Why is learning about all the world religions more important than learning about world philosophies? The latter aren't covered at all in the UK system.

My dd's friend got an E. he was furious-he was aiming for a U to make a point. So doing no work, no homework and deliberately trying to screw up the paper he still got an E!

I don’t think it has any place in the national curriculum personally and I say this as someone who went to a catholic school. Triple award science wasn’t offered at my school as a result. We spent 2 hours a week learning about what were effectively fairytales. That time could have been better spent on maths, science or English. I do agree that it’s important to learn about different faiths, to have a basic level of understanding, but this could quite easily have been incorporated into PSE (personal and social education) that was 1 hour a week where we just sat around and occasionally watched a video on sex ed.

I have no idea why we need a GCSE in RE though, my A in RE has really helped with my career in clinical research, honest.

People who whinge about RE sound ignorant as fuck imo. It's not an attempt to indoctrinate children, it's to teach them awareness about lifestyles and beliefs other than their own.

Why bother to learn a language by the same token lemondrizzle

German gcse =totally useless in my life and career

Tommy Robinson and indeed anyone old enough to fit the typical demographic of posters on here are pretty unlikely to have studied the current RE syllabus.

I can't imagine Tommy Robinson engaged with much at school tbh

See, if I was feeling uncharitable, I might say only seeing things from the narrow UK perspective was ignorant as fuck. You can teach children about other lifestyles without compulsory RE, as demonstrated by millions of school children just across the Channel.

It's compulsory at my DC school but it is called society, religion and wellbeing and covers a huge range of things like morals, different religions, debating etc etc. It's a great subject and for GCSE they can sit RE or Citizenship papers.

I think there’s a lot of misunderstanding around what is taught in RE at GCSE level.

I went to catholic school, we spent a year studying Mark’s Gospel. We discussed the ‘miracles’ and parables. Students were welcome to be critical and there was much discussion around how stories may have been adapted for the audiences at the time, etc. It’s helpful for getting a decent understanding of Christianity, I admit eduction in other religions may have been helpful. We did study them at KS3 and ALevel.

We also spent the second year on various modern ethical issues, again differing opinions were welcomed and it was a great opportunity to work on debating skills and essay writing.

Most subjects offered at GCSE aren’t useful for their content, unless continued to aLevel and beyond, they are useful is teaching skills for further study along with providing some basic knowledge.

Well, the French generally aren't known for their acceptance and awareness, so not sure what that has to do with anything.

I don't imagine Tommy Robinson was a great student either. Which just goes to show what a farce compulsory RE as the great rounder-off of all students really is.

ples well wuite. I didnt learn a language. And languages arent compulsory for dd.

I think the only compulsory subjects should be maths and english

whereas the UK is a shining beacon of harmony and tolerance I guess...

@Robojesus yeah... They are better options

I disagree. So learning how to make a wooden bird feeder and a quiche Lorraine are more valuable than learning about the world religions, their customs and beliefs?

Ok then. 

I think if you listen and engage with RE you can't help becoming a more interesting critical thinker. Of course if you have parents telling you it's bollocks that probably won't happen.

I have no idea why we need a GCSE in RE though, my A in RE has really helped with my career in clinical research, honest.
My GCSE science has been of no use to me either.
I've never used trigonometry either since leaving school.
DH did art GCSE and doesn't use that in his job either.
The 'but I haven't used' / 'I find it boring so don't understand how anyone else weight want to study It' arguments are so tiring.
How hard is it to get that GCSEs are general certificates. They may foundations from which students can opt to build on if they want.

if you listen and engage with RE

Which, kind of ironically, would be far more likely if pupils were choosing it as an option rather than it being compulsory.

It's a difficult one. The modern RE syllabus is an interesting and useful one, and a lot of the posts here demonstrate little more than the poster not being familiar with it. Otoh, school timetables are so full already. The standard isn't just whether something is useful but also whether it is more useful than the thing the student would be doing instead.

KNOWING people of faith is what removes ignorance and barriers. Learning theory really doesnt

As i have said dd has a lot of exposure to many different cultures and religions in her life, family and friends. She undestands more about diversity and equality than most adults, as i keep saying

As i also keep saying, i am not afraid that she will catch religion. I dont care if she does. I just dont think RE should be COMPULSORY. It is of no more use/importance/interrst than the other subjects which arent compulsory

Well maths is compulsory but the current maths gcse is arguably less relevant and useful than the current RE syllabus.

KNOWING people of faith is what removes ignorance and barriers. Learning theory really doesnt
This isn't at all true