Second RE Youth Debate

On Monday 9th July 2018, 80 Year 10-12 students from schools across England came to Parliament to debate some of the key issues around the teaching of Religious Education.Four of the schools involved are members of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales (REC) Young Ambassador scheme.

Liz Twist MP and historian of religion, Professor Francesca Stavrakopoulou joined the talented students for the debate, which was hosted by William Wragg MP and organised by the REC and the National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE) and funded by Culham St Gabriel’s Trust. Numerous MPs, Parliamentary researchers, policy advisers and other interested parties witnessed the debate, which showcased the students’ engagement with the subject through their range and depth of thinking around these complex questions.

The questions discussed were:

1. In an increasingly secular society there is no need for RE.
2. If religious literacy is fundamental to challenging extremism, the Government should repeal the right to withdraw.
3. You learn more by studying other people’s worldviews than you do by studying your own.