A-Level students still choosing Religious Studies

Religious Studies continues to grow in popularity in Britain, A-level results have revealed.

This year an impressive 18,463 sat the A Level Religious Studies exam, an increase of 4.3 per cent since last year and 31.2 per cent since 2005.

Meanwhile, 80.4 per cent gained a grade A*-C, up on 2.2 per cent from last year. Education experts reckon similar success will be portrayed in the GCSE RS results, due out later this week.

Despite the subject’s popularity and high pass rates, Religious Studies at GCSE and A-Level is still under threat due to the subject’s exclusion from the English Baccalaureate.

The RE.ACT campaign, organised by Premier Christian Media earlier this year, was created to mobilise the public to lobby the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove MP, to include GCSE Religious Studies in the Baccalaureate.

Over 144,000 people signed the RE.ACT campaign petition, which was presented by a group of MPs from across the main political parties to Number 10 Downing Street in June.

The campaign for the inclusion of Religious Studies was well supported by over 100 MPs who signed Early Day Motion 1375, including former conservative MP, Ann Widdecombe.

Peter Kerridge, Chief Executive of Premier Christian Media, primary sponsors of RE.ACT, said: “It is brilliant to hear that Religious Studies (RS) has increased in popularity and that there is a higher pass rate at A level.

"However all this good work could be undermined following the exclusion of RS from the English Baccalaureate.

"There is a real concern, that unless RS is made a priority at GCSE level, this will have a knock on effect for the subject at A-Level, leading to reduced take up of the subject.”