The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed the release by the Religious Education Council of England and Wales (REC) today of proposals for a National Strategy for RE.
The BHA was a supporter of the National Framework for RE produced by QCA in 2004, which recommended a more educational and more inclusive approach to RE for all children and which included a recommendation that pupils learn about secular worldviews such as Humanism in RE. The National Strategy proposals released today build on this good work to make greater progress towards inclusive, broad and balanced beliefs and values education in schools in England which, as the REC has said, will help to ensure that all young people ‘become critically intelligent regarding what and why they believe and value as they do.’
BHA Education Officer Andrew Copson said, ‘Every child has the right to education about the various religions and non-religious beliefs that people have in our society and they also have the right to education that will develop their own responses to the questions of beliefs and values. We welcome the National Strategy proposals because they will create the environment needed in which this best practice can flourish and they will equip teachers to deliver it.’
You can read more about the REC’s proposals for a National Strategy at www.religiouseducationcouncil.org.uk
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For further comment or information, please contact Andrew Copson by email , or on 020 7079 3584
Read more about BHA policies on Religious Education here . The British Humanist Association (BHA) represents and supports the non-religious and campaigns for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief. It is the largest organisation in the UK working for a secular society. In RE, this means education about beliefs and values that is broad, objective and balanced.
For more about the BHA see humanists.uk