A new Religious Studies GCSE syllabus which explores topics of homosexuality, binge drinking and drugs has been welcomed by Bible Society’s education expert Ann Holt.

The syllabus, due to be taught from September, includes teaching on citizenship and personal, social and health education.

Topics include ‘religion, sport and leisure’ which asks pupils about stress relief and the misuse of leisure time, such as binge drinking, and ‘religion and planet earth’ which looks at conservation, recycling and stewardship issues.

The GCSE, offered by the exam board Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), has been condemned by some as too politically correct and not focussed enough on holy books such as the Bible.

But Ann Holt, Bible Society’s Director of Programme in England and Wales, welcomed the syllabus as a way to connect Scripture with issues that resonate today.

"This new course shows the significance of a religious worldview to the issues of citizenship and personal, social and health education. Presented thoughtfully, any course that helps students to understand the relevance of the Bible and other religious texts to life’s issues is to be welcomed," she said.

"From a Christian perspective, the Bible does influence thinking on major issues such as conservation and the misuse of drugs in sport. Nobody makes their moral choices in a vacuum – and it’s important that young people understand this."

Ms Holt, who has received an OBE for her work in education, added that she would like to see students in other academic disciplines see the significance of the Bible.

Bible Society runs a culture-facing programme that seeks to demonstrate the significance of the Bible in and through education, the media, politics and the arts.

Last year, Bible Society launched a new website, Crossref-it.info, which helps English Literature A-level and degree students understand the biblical influences in major works such as Hamlet and Frankenstein.

Before Christmas, a new resource based on the BBC’s drama The Passion was released to help students get to grips with the theological significance of the last week of Jesus’ life.