Mark Chater, QCDA on the future of Religious Education in England

From the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) website: 'QCDA will be at the heart of England's education system. Our job will be to develop the curriculum, improve and deliver assessments, and review and reform qualifications.

Dr Mark Chater is Curriculum Adviser for Religious Education (RE) at QCDA.

At the British Humanist Association (BHA) SACRE Annual Conference in Conway Hall, London on 7 November 2009, Mark Chater spoke to 40 BHA delegates for an hour (see slides column right):-

• 'Religious' & 'Education' are the two words most hated by school children, Mark half joked!
• I hope RE in future will be on the main plate not served up as a side dish'. Mark was referring to RE being a 'National Syllabus' subject with some local input rather than a wholly locally determined syllabus.
• RE will not be a pulpit for any religion or belief.
• Probably by 2020, Religious Education name will be changed by law. The new subject will be equally secular and religious, Mark said.
• some schools have already changed Religious Education to other names eg RE@CT: 'Religion, Ethics And Critical Thinking' by Somervale School at Midsomer Norton in Somerset. 
• PPE: Philosophy, Politics and Economics
• RE will not be the only school subject that is an uneasy alliance of topics. 'Science' and  'Design and Technology' are other examples.
• RB: Religion & Belief