Religious studies

[frodoandsam]

Hi,
I am new to this. Can anyone help.
I ahve just been informed by my daughter (Who is in year 11) that her school has stopped teaching RS to year 11's. Can they do this? The time is going to be used to catch up in other subjects.
Thanks

[scaryteacher]

If they have taken their half GCSE, then they can, but shouldn't as there is a statutory requirement to teach RE. If she wants to do the GCSE, then insist that she is taught, and ask what OFSTED will think when asked.

[peeweewee]

RE is often two half GCSEs in KS4 - so it's possible to do one short course (half a GCSE) and then drop it for Y11.

Saying that, if we have individual students who are struggling with the full set of GCSEs we often reduce their timetable by taking them out of subjects - usually RE will suffer here.

Even though it's a stat requirement.

She has a right to do the full course if she wants though, but it will be tricky getting the school onside unless there are enough to run a full class.

[Iggi999]

What a short sighted approach the school has. Is education just about passing the exams? (Please don't say yes!) I think it would be great to complain to the school, bet they're counting on all the parents thinking RS is a waste of time

[scaryteacher]

There is no reason why she can't do the full course after school over a year. I did it for my students.

What is the RE department doing? My boss would have been apoplectic with rage if the SMT had done this to us.

[frodoandsam]

Hi,
Thanks for all the replies.
My greatest concern is that the school have not talked to any parents about this, they just went ahead and did it.
With society as it is today, children need to now about morals and ethics ect.
I am just gobsmacked that the school don't think that this is important.

[peeweewee]

scaryteacher that thought occurred to me too - any dept head wouldn't take that easily....