Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Leaders warn of rising hate crimes as demand for faith studies drops

by NADEEM BADSHAH

THE decline in the number of students taking Religious Studies at GCSE level in the UK needs to be addressed amid rising hate crime, community leaders have warned.


More than 700 schools stopped entering students into the subject in one year, according to research by Liverpool Hope University.

It said the number of teenagers taking GCSE Religious Studies (RS) fell from 254,000 to 229,000 between 2017-2018 and fewer than half of secondary schools now offer the subject.

This year’s figures suggest an uptake of interest, but most of those taking religious studies are at faith schools.

Only 30 per cent of pupils in non-faith schools took RS which was previously a compulsory GCSE subject.

Campaigners warn schoolkids need to be educated in depth on faiths, including Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism, beyond the age of 14 to tackle rising incidents of hate crime.

Jasvir Singh OBE, founder of City Sikhs, told Eastern Eye: “There is a real lack of knowledge and awareness when it comes to the diversity of faith communities within British society.

“The only way to counter that is through education, and schools have a pivotal role to play in that.

“Seeing the drop in pupils taking RE as a GCSE is disheartening, and it’s clear that much more needs to be done at a civic society and educational level to ensure that religious literacy can improve across the UK.

“This is especially important when ignorance is known to be a strong driver for hate crimes. The more that can be done to counter such ignorance, the better.”

The Liverpool Hope University report also found that the number of pupils in England and Wales taking GCSE RS fell for the third year in a row.

And the number taking the short course GCSE fell more sharply, by 19.7 per cent to 27,384, although it remains the most commonly taken short course.

Jabeer Butt, CEO of the Race Equality Foundation, told Eastern Eye: “Good religious education can help us understand each other, and challenge misunderstandings and prejudices. This is one of the ways schools can play a role in bring

ing us together as a community.

“Schools must do better to show the value of learning about different religions, and its benefits to society. “

Religiously motivated hate crime rose by 40 per cent across England and Wales between 2016-17 and 2017-18, according to Home Office figures. And the victim in more than half of incidents reported were Muslim.

Fiyaz Mughal, founder of the Faith Matters charity, said: “The fall in students undertaking RE is sad, as it is a way of expanding the mind and ensuring that people understand a part of the identities of others. This is a depressing statistic at a time when the world needs more understanding and positive civic discourse.”

Ben Wood, chair of the National Association of Teachers of RE, said the subject at GCSE level “provides an invaluable opportunity to learn about, consider and debate many important and pertinent questions, preparing them for adult life in a diverse and complex world.”

He added: “While some schools do offer alternative provision, too many schools simply fail to meet their statutory duty to provide their students with RE.” A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “All students in maintained schools are taught religious education throughout school, regardless of whether they study it as a GCSE or not.”

More For You

F-35B jet

The UK has agreed to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport.

Indian Air Force

F-35B jet still stranded in Kerala, UK sends engineers for repair

UK AVIATION engineers are arriving in Thiruvananthapuram to carry out repairs on an F-35B Lightning jet belonging to the Royal Navy, which has remained grounded after an emergency landing 12 days ago.

The jet is part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group of the UK's Royal Navy. It made the emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on June 14. The aircraft, valued at over USD 110 million, is among the most advanced fighter jets in the world.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ahmedabad air crash
Relatives carry the coffin of a victim, who was killed in the Air India Flight 171 crash, during a funeral ceremony in Ahmedabad on June 15, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ahmedabad crash: Grief, denial and trauma haunt families

TWO weeks after the crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, families of victims are grappling with grief and trauma. Psychiatrists are now working closely with many who continue to oscillate between denial and despair.

The crash occurred on June 12, when the London-bound flight hit the BJ Medical College complex shortly after takeoff, killing 241 people on board and 29 on the ground. Only one passenger survived.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer apologises for 'island of strangers' immigration speech

Prime minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at The British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference in London on June 26, 2025. (Photo by EDDIE MULHOLLAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Starmer apologises for 'island of strangers' immigration speech

PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he was wrong to warn that Britain could become an "island of strangers" due to high immigration, saying he "deeply" regrets the controversial phrase.

Speaking to The Observer, Sir Keir said he would not have used those words if he had known they would be seen as echoing the language of Enoch Powell's notorious 1968 "rivers of blood" speech.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sir Sajid Javid leads commission 'tackling social divisions'

Sir Sajid Javid (Photo by Tom Nicholson-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Sir Sajid Javid leads commission 'tackling social divisions'

A cross-party group has been formed to tackle the deep divisions that sparked last summer's riots across England. The new commission will be led by former Tory minister Sir Sajid Javid and ex-Labour MP Jon Cruddas.

The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion has backing from both prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. It brings together 19 experts from different political parties and walks of life.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Masum

Masum was seen on CCTV trying to steer the pram away and, when she refused to go with him, stabbed her multiple times before walking away and boarding a bus. (Photo: West Yorkshire Police)

West Yorkshire Police

Habibur Masum convicted of murdering estranged wife in front of baby

A MAN who stabbed his estranged wife to death in Bradford in front of their baby has been convicted of murder.

Habibur Masum, 26, attacked 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter in broad daylight on April 6, 2024, stabbing her more than 25 times while she pushed their seven-month-old son in a pram. The baby was not harmed.

Keep ReadingShow less