RE classes 'must cover terrorism'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Pupils should be taught religion is not always a force for good and helped to have a more sophisticated understanding of the subject, according to a report by Ofsted.

After a five-year inspection of religious education (RE) classes, which began in the same year as the 9/11 attacks in America, Ofsted concluded rote learning was no longer adequate.

The watchdog found the subject was generally being taught better and linked with contemporary religious and moral issues like whether the Iraq war was morally justified.

But inspectors criticised teaching methods for encouraging pupils to adopt "standard, mechanistic responses" to the issues they study. And Ofsted claimed learning is in danger of "trivialising" issues of global human significance rather than developing a deeper understanding of religious perspectives on life.

The report, Making Sense of Religion, said: "RE cannot ignore controversy. We should dispense with the notion that we should encourage pupils to think uncritically of religion as a 'good thing'.

"Religion is complex and its impact is ambiguous. Pupils are aware of this ambiguity and must be given the opportunity to explore the issues openly."

Events such as the July 7 bombings in London and the September 11 attacks have raised the subject's profile significantly and schools have new responsibilities to promote community cohesion, inspectors argue.

The report says: "The curriculum and teaching in RE do not place sufficient emphasis on exploring the changing political and social significance of religion in the modern world. As a result, the subject's potential to contribute to community cohesion, education for diversity and citizenship, is not being fully realised."

It calls for schoolchildren to be taught the "social reality" of religion instead of merely ethical and philosophical issues like whether God does exist.