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Last week, Bishop Richard popped in to speak with the cohort of secondary school teachers attending the first session of St Mary's University Postgraduate Certificate in Religious Education (RE). The course is a new collaboration between the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton and St Mary’s University, in Twickenham, one of four Catholic universities in England and aims to increase the number of RE specialists in schools. It supports career development and progression and is specifically aimed at anyone teaching RE (or wishing to teach RE) who is trained in another subject.

Completion of the course provides an opportunity to develop subject knowledge focused around the six branches of the RE Directory and gain an understanding of the history and role of RE in Catholic secondary schools in England.

After this first in-person session, held at The St Philip Howard Centre in Crawley, the students will continue their studies through online twilight sessions, and the credits that they earn through the course can be used towards a Master's qualification.

Speaking ahead of the session, Julie Oldroyd, Education Service Director of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, said:

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“RE is a varied and fascinating subject which secures confidence in our own faith as well as ensuring understanding of and respect for others. Amid the national shortfall in teacher numbers we’ve collaborated with St Mary’s University to play our part in increasing the RE teacher workforce.”  

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By law Catholic schools teach a Catholic RE curriculum, which is statutory and part of the basic curriculum, for 10% of curriculum time. Catholic RE includes the study of other religions such as Judaism, Islam and Sikhism and world views for therefore much longer than in most secular schools, contributing to community cohesion. Partly as a result, Catholic schools are significantly more ethnically diverse than other state-funded schools.  

All students in Catholic schools study GCSE RE, with approximately a quarter of entrants to the exam coming from the Catholic sector.