Teach children about belief from age of four says faith study group

The review of religious education also calls for primary school pupils to be taught to discuss their own and others’ views on topics such as whether God is real, and the origins of the universe.

The study, published by the Religious Education Council for England and Wales, sets out plans to revive RE in schools, amid concerns that it is in decline and has been marginalised.

It comes just weeks after an Ofsted report warned that more than half of England’s schools are failing to give pupils good RE lessons.

In July, Education Secretary Michael Gove admitted that RE has suffered as a result of the Government’s school reforms. The creation of the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc), awarded to pupils who achieve good GCSE grades in English, maths, two sciences, history, geography and a modern language, has caused concern that subjects not included in it are being marginalised in schools.

Under the current system, RE is compulsory in England’s schools, but there is no mandatory curriculum. Instead local councils and schools themselves decide on a syllabus to follow.

The council, which represents more than 60 faith groups and professional bodies, said it was not proposing to change the status of RE.

Its review sets out guidelines for a new RE curriculum, with details of what children should learn at each stage of their education, and says that schools should see this as a “national benchmark”.