Court ruling over exclusion of non-religious worldviews in GCSE Religious Studies

The High Court today gave a ruling on the case brought by three families against the Secretary of State for Education regarding the exclusion of non-religious worldviews from the GCSE RS exam criteria. The families were supported by the British Humanist Association.

Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, Chief Executive Officer of the Religious Education Council, has commented:

We have consistently maintained that good quality RE should recognise the importance and relevance of non-religious worldviews. Including them makes the subject richer, more stimulating, more open, and potentially more rigorous.

The experience of teachers also leads us to say that young people value the opportunity to learn about the diversity of worldviews in our society today, regardless of whether these perspectives are religious or non-religious.

We fully support the Court’s ruling and look forward to working with the Department for Education and others to help ensure that the RE curriculum reflects an appropriate range of faiths and beliefs and better prepares young people for life in modern Britain.