THE number of scholars taking A levels in Religious Studies reflects a “growing interest in life’s big questions”, the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE) and the Religious Education Council of England and Wales (REC) said in a press release published on results day on Thursday.
The institutions reported that teachers were noticing that young people were “turning to the topic to assist them understand life and find meaning within the twenty first century”.
The FFT Education Datalab reported that, across the UK, a complete of 25.5 per cent of pupils achieved A*-A grades in RE, compared with 28.3 per cent for all subjects.
This yr, 81.2 per cent of scholars achieved a C or above in RE, compared with 78.8 per cent last yr.
Female students scored barely higher than male students: 81.8 per cent received a C or above, and 25.8 per cent received A*-A grades in RE, compared with 79.7 per cent and 24.6 per cent, respectively.
The number of scholars receiving top A-level grades in England has risen for the second yr in a row. A complete of 28.3 per cent of entries were awarded an A or A*, up from 27.8 per cent in 2024 (News, 15 August 2024), and above 25.4 per cent in 2019.
Katie Freeman, who chairs NATRE, congratulated all “RE teachers and their students”, on Thursday. “Specialist RE teachers are an infinite asset to young people, their schools, and communities, opening up a wealth of opportunity from careers to latest mental experiences.”
The Church of England’s chief education officer, the Revd Nigel Genders, had a message for the recipients of A-level results: “Whatever your results today, keep in mind that your price will not be defined by grades. You are created and loved by God, with gifts and potential that reach far beyond a single piece of paper.
“As you step into the subsequent chapter, take a moment to thank the teachers and faculty leaders who’ve supported you on the way in which. Be courageous, stay true to who you might be, and trust that the trail ahead will unfold — sometimes just as you hoped, and sometimes in ways that can surprise you!”
The number of scholars taking A-level RE has “remained stable”, with a fall of just 1.3 per cent, which is lower than the autumn in other humanities subjects. Yet, since 2003, A-level entries for the topic have grown by 34.8 per cent.
There were falls in A-level entries in other humanities subjects: History fell by 5.4 per cent, Geography by 6.4 per cent, and Sociology and Law by one per cent: the same rate to RE.
The decline in RE is explained by Sarah Lane Cawte, who chairs the REC, as “the topic still lacking the resourcing and a focus to fulfill this growing demand.” She said: “Sadly, many students who wish to pursue the topic at A level cannot.”
The REC and NATRE say that the teacher-training bursary for RE was recently restored for the tutorial yr 2024-25, after the Department for Education had missed its recruitment goal for 12 of the past 13 years. But the Subject Knowledge Enhancement grant, which is “vital to encourage graduates from a spread of subjects to coach to show RE”, has been withdrawn, although “those benefiting from the grant accounted for 27 per cent of those that trained this yr.”
Fifty-one per cent oft the teachers who deliver RE lessons mainly teach one other subject, and are, due to this fact, “far less more likely to be expected to show A level given the expertise required”.
Among others offering hope and support to students receiving results was the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally. Posting to social media, she said that she was “Thinking of scholars getting their exam results today and their parents and schools supporting, helping, guiding, and celebrating with them. Prayers for you all.”
The Archbishop of York also offered prayers. He reminisced about his A-level results day, and said that “it’s something all of us approach with nervousness and trepidation.”
He read a prayer that, he said, had been written by someone some years ago, when she herself was awaiting her results: “Jesus, keep reminding me of the larger picture over the subsequent few weeks. Keep me in your hands when all other hands disappear; for I’m convinced that neither entry requirements, nor exam results [. . .] nor the rest in life will give you the option to separate us from the love of God that’s in Christ Jesus our Lord. Please don’t let me forget it. Amen.”
