In summer 2021, Culham St Gabriel’s Trust commissioned research to understand more about public perception of an education in religion and worldviews. The results of the research have now been published and it confirms the importance of Religious Education with 64% of adults in the UK believe that an education in religion and worldviews is an important part of the school curriculum today.
The research, conducted by Savanta among 2,000 adults and commissioned by education charity Culham St Gabriel’s Trust, also found that 71% of UK adults agree that the subject should reflect the diversity of backgrounds and beliefs in the UK today.
Seven out of ten people surveyed also agreed that the role of Religious Education is to provide pupils with the opportunity to learn more about other people, beliefs, worldviews and cultures (73%), to foster the mutual understanding of different beliefs among young people (71%), and encourage them to openly discuss their beliefs with others (69%).
A further two thirds agreed that the subject’s role is to help young people critically evaluate their own beliefs (65%) as well as the beliefs of others (65%).
The key findings of the research include:
Around two-thirds of UK adults say it’s important to understand the beliefs of others in at least 4 contexts:
- In everyday life (69%)
- In relationships with friends and family (65%)
- In school (65%)
- In local communities (64%)
- In the workplace (61%)
Two-thirds (64%) of UK adults think that an understanding of their own beliefs is important to them, while over half (57%) agree that this understanding has a positive impact on their wellbeing
Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the UK adult population think that it is important that Religious Education is part of the school curriculum today
Two-thirds (65%) of respondents agree that Religious Education has an impact on people’s ability to understand each other in wider society
71% stated that should reflect the diversity of backgrounds and beliefs in the UK today
On the subject of religious education, respondents agreed that its role is:
- To help young people gain a better understanding of their own beliefs (69%)
- To foster the mutual understanding of different beliefs among young people (71%)
- To provide young people with the opportunity to learn more about other people, beliefs, worldviews, and cultures (73%)
- To encourage young people to openly discuss their beliefs with others (69%)
- To help young people critically evaluate their own beliefs (65%)
- To help young people critically evaluate the beliefs of others (65%)
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Download a Press Release on the survey results
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