Growth in Religious Studies at GCSE has not translated into consistent A-level entries say subject leaders as entries dip for fifth consecutive year
The number of students in England and Wales taking Religious Studies at A-level has dipped by 2.7% to 14,594, prompting subject leaders to raise concerns that many schools are unable to offer the subject to students at A-level due to a lack of specialist teachers.
In England the number of students taking the subject at A-level saw a fall from 14,268 to 13,832 (3%). In Wales the number of students taking A-level RS rose slightly by 737 to 762 (3.4%).
The number of students who achieved Grade A*-C rose by 0.5% in both England and Wales. More girls took the subject (69%) than boys (31%) at a ratio of almost 2:1 (10,122 girls and 4,472 boys).
Subject leaders say that, despite the subject being the seventh most widely taken at GCSE, this has not translated into a corresponding rise in A-level entries. Over the last five years, entries to the subject have fallen by 12% from 16,645 to 14,594.
Analysis of the school workforce data by the Religious Education Policy Unit shows that half of schools with sixth forms that enter candidates for GCSE RS do not offer the subject at A-level. Among schools without a religious character, this rises to 59% compared to 17% of schools with a religious character.
In response to these statistics, subject leaders point to the longstanding shortage of RE specialists in schools. Half of those who deliver RE lessons in England and Wales mainly teach another subject.
The government has previously acknowledged the lack of specialist RE teachers. The Initial Teacher Training bursary for the subject was re-introduced for the academic year 2024-25 after the subject had failed its recruitment target for 13 of the last 14 years. This led to a 40% rise in those training to be an RE teacher.
However, in October 2025, the Department for Education confirmed that the £10,000 training bursary for Religious Education will not be continued for those training in the 2026-27 academic year. This is despite recent UCAS data showing that RE teacher recruitment for 2025-26 stands at just 65% of the target, one of the lowest for all secondary school subjects.
Sarah Lane Cawte, Chair of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales, said:
“The ongoing decline of entries in A-level Religious Studies is a symptom of a bigger and growing problem with the lack of specialist RE teachers in our schools.
“Half of schools in England and Wales now do not offer Religious Studies at Sixth Form. Students who excel and do well at GCSE are often unable to take the subject at A-level because schools lack specialist teachers.
“A-level RE is challenging but deeply rewarding. It allows students to confront the philosophical and theological questions that underpin human existence and develops the kind of thinkers who go on to flourish in further education and work. We do a great disservice to young people by not offering them the choice to take it.”
Katie Freeman, Chair of the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education, said:
“The simple message from these results is that we need more specialist RE teachers in schools. We have not seen a significant change in the workforce since 2016, despite a growth in the subject at GCSE. It’s really disheartening to hear that many young people are unable to carry on with the subject because of this.
“Restoring the teacher training bursary and providing access to subject enhancement courses are vital steps the government now needs to take.”