Religious education is the “wilderness” subject that anyone can be told to teach, particularly in primary schools. The encouraging notes are that more students are recognising the value of RE and that education secretary Michael Gove admitted this summer that he didn’t think he had done enough for the subject. This is a unique opportunity for the whole RE community to be taken seriously and to improve provision across our schools - let us all seize it. RE is important for community cohesion, and our young people want to engage with and understand each other’s beliefs. Neglecting RE is a danger to our society.

Clive Ireson, Director of strategy, Association of Christian Teachers.