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Religious Education is the term given to the aspect of education concerned with religion. It may refer to education provided by a church or religious organization, for instruction in doctrine and faith, or for education in various aspects of religion, but without explicitly religious or moral aims, e.g. in a school or college. The term often overlaps with Religious Studies.

Religious Education (RE) is a compulsory subject in the state education system in the United Kingdom. Schools are required to teach a programme of religious studies according to local and national guidelines.

In Scotland it is called Religious and Moral Education from ages 5 to 14, and Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies from 14 to 18.

Religious Education in England is mandated by the Education Act 1944 and as amended by the Education Reform Act 1988 and the Education Act 2000.

The teaching of RE is not without controversy and some parents exercise the right to withdraw their children from such lessons. However, the aim of most RE is not to indoctrinate students but to enable them to understand the diversity of religious and moral beliefs. The ostensible purpose of the program is to enable them to fully develop socially, morally, spiritually and culturally (a key aim of the English National Curriculum).

Generally, students will study different religions, religious leaders, and other religious and moral themes.

Scotland has national guidelines which state expectations of student learning. The Local Authority will draw up a curriculum for each of its schools.

Each local authority in England has a Local Agreed Syllabus which mandate subject teaching for each Key Stage and possibly for each school year.

Schools will be inspected according to these guidelines and syllabi.

See also the National Framework for Religious Education (a non-statutory document) published in 2004, which provides guidelines for the provision of RE at all key stages, and models the eight-levels as applied in National Curriculum subjects. Available to download from the QCA web site (www.qca.org.uk).

In France, RE is replaced by a compulsory non-religious moral teaching (called civic, legal and social education : éducation civique, juridique et sociale, ECJS). Children can additionnaly receive, on a voluntary basis, a religious education, either at school in private religious school, or outside of school, in their religious community, if they are in a public (State) school.

See: Civic, Social and Political Education

• Education in England
• Education in Scotland
• Religious Studies

• Religious and moral education, Curriculum for excellence, Scotland