Is RE a compulsory GCSE subject in Sheffield schools ?

My granddaughter has been told she has to drop two subjects, history and geography, for which she is certain to get good 'O' level grades, because there is not enough room in her timetable to do the RE as well. She has been told the RE is mandatory !!!

Any secondary school teachers on the forum ?

Originally posted by Greybeard
Is RE a compulsory GCSE subject in Sheffield schools ?

My granddaughter has been told she has to drop two subjects, history and geography, for which she is certain to get good 'O' level grades, because there is not enough room in her timetable to do the RE as well. She has been told the RE is mandatory !!!

Any secondary school teachers on the forum ?

Hi greybeard,

RE is not mandatory as a full GCSE, although is has to be done as a short-course. Some schools (Notre Dame being one I think) do make you do it I think, which I guess can be argued.

Also, I knew of a few people that took GCSE RE out of school hours which I think is a very good idea.

I got an A in the short-course (half a GCSE) :)

Hope this helps

Mind_vs_Body

it will be at a catholic school, or it was in my day.

only in special circumstances can people drop it.

As far as I know all schools carry on with GCSE R.E and take it as an exam when they take their other exams.

Mind-Vs-Body is correct. It's optional at non-denominational schools, but there are short courses.

At CofE and Catholic schools I would imagine it's as compulsory as maths and english.

I wouldn't worry too much. If your grand-daughter is as bright as you indicate, she will be able to take a couple of GCSEs in further education, perhaps while she is studying for A levels.

I went to Notre Dame and it was compulsory. But I didnt have to drop any subjects.

We had to chose either Geography or History, then either French, German or Spanish then another subject like IT or PE or Child Development etc

May have changed now

Sounds like another example of the education system shoving religion down kids' throats. :nono: I was happy to leave this behind when I chose my GCSE's in 1990.

Don't get me wrong I did enjoy learning about Buddhism and Hinduism in the first couple of years in secondary school. Islam and Christianity was pretty boring but thankfully by the time I'd had enough I was given the choice to pack it all in. What's changed in the last 14 years that we have to know all this bobbins?

I did my options 12 years ago and managed to drop RE back then... Good job as well, most yawn inducing subject on the curriculum IMO.

If only I could've dropped science as well :(

I don't really see why it's compulsory, it's not like many people actually use anything you learn in science lessons, unless they go into science as a career path.

Science is used everyday, regardless of job.

Originally posted by Skatiechik
Science is used everyday, regardless of job.

Get out of here! Thats like some geeky maths teacher saying maths is all around you and refering to the number 12 bus!!

I haven't really needed to know about frog sex or ever disected a rat since I left school.
Rolling cigs would be a better topic in science.

Thanls for the feedback folks :)

Granddaughter is at Yewlands which I'm pretty sure is a secular establishment.

I can only suggest her mother do somethimg about it.

Originally posted by miniminch
Get out of here! Thats like some geeky maths teacher saying maths is all around you and refering to the number 12 bus!!

I haven't really needed to know about frog sex or ever disected a rat since I left school.
Rolling cigs would be a better topic in science.

As an example :-

So when you need to rewire a plug, or replace a fuse? I suppose you call the electrician out, as you didn't think science was relevant at school.

Open your eyes and consider the technology around you, without science it wouldn't be there.

Maths is all around you too, I am using the technology of both subjects right now on this computer to type this message. Without Maths how would you know how much money to pay for your busfare, or if you have been given the correct change. Mathematics is an essential part of life,.

Greybeard

My son goes to Yewlands in his final year there.

RE is mandatory it gives a half of a GCSE as it`s a short course.

Has your Granddaughter choosen a double option, that is why she had to drop two subjects my son says.

Hope that helps, but if you want any more info about exams at Yewlands I can help.

we did 2 short courses and got 1 full gcse

Originally posted by Skatiechik
As an example :-

So when you need to rewire a plug, or replace a fuse? I suppose you call the electrician out, as you didn't think science was relevant at school.

Open your eyes and consider the technology around you, without science it wouldn't be there.

Maths is all around you too, I am using the technology of both subjects right now on this computer to type this message. Without Maths how would you know how much money to pay for your busfare, or if you have been given the correct change. Mathematics is an essential part of life,.

In my case, me Dad's an Electrician so I'd just ring him and get him to come and see to any electrical work that would need doing in my house.

He'd be cheaper and a lot more trustworthy than a lot of these bodge it and scarper cowboys you see on the "from hell" programmes.

As an RE teacher in a Sheffield secondary school I can tell you that the Government policy concerning Religious Education is that all students must do RE, usually for one period a week, up to the end of Year 11.

Most schools will encourage all students to take a GCSE short course qualification at the end of their course. At my school we encourage the more able students to take a full GCSE at the end of Year 11.

Parents often ask if their children can do other subjects to GCSE rather than RE, but timetable constraints, and the fact that most other subjects which students opt for at GCSE require at least two periods a week, usually makes this impossible.

A student being asked to drop two of their favourite subjects is rare, but it usually means that they have opted for other subjects in preference, and there is no room on the timetable for everything that students want to do. It might be possible to do GCSE in one or both of these subjects in after school lessons or in the 6th form as others have suggested.

It is possible for parents to withdraw pupils from RE on the grounds of conscience, but withdrawal puts the emphasis on the parents to provide education for their child during the RE period not the school.

RE has changed enormously in the last few years in schools and includes humanism and other secular philosophies besides all the major world religions.

The GCSE courses available in schools these days include study of the human experience with regard to persecution and prejudice, conflict and peace, medical ethics, crime and punishment, pollution and conservation, the problem of evil and suffering, relationships, community and much more, explored from various religious and philosophical standpoints.

Pass marks at RE in Sheffield schools invariably outdo most other subjects at GCSE because of this stimulating and interesting content. I ask you in what other subject can a teacher involve a class of students in a complex, stimulating and intriguing discussion by asking the question "Is it ever right to take a life?", except in RE?

Originally posted by rosie
Greybeard

My son goes to Yewlands in his final year there.

RE is mandatory it gives a half of a GCSE as it`s a short course.

Has your Granddaughter choosen a double option, that is why she had to drop two subjects my son says.

Hope that helps, but if you want any more info about exams at Yewlands I can help.

Thanks Rosie,

All I know until I see her next is that she was doing German but dropped it for Media Studies, she was already doing Art (pretty good at it too) so perhaps that combo is a double option ? - it just seems a bit daft for her to have to give up two subjects for which she certain of good grades. You would think the school would be more accomodating as the more 'O' levels the kids get the better the school's reputation....especially if the RE only counts as half of a GCSE.

Mind you I have to be careful here...don't want to be seen as interfering :rolleyes:

They do it at Tapton as compulsory GCSE over 3 yrs. My son wanted to do another Dt choice instead of the RE but was not allowed.

scallywagjaz, - welcome to the forum and thank you for such a helpful first post.

I've no objection to RE being a mandatory subject, and certainly comparative religion is an essential insight to have in our modern multicultural society; but I'm just a little puzzled that a short course involving one class period per week should prove so disruptive to other courses.

To me History and Geography are equally essential components of a good general eductaion. My old school managed to cram English Language, Maths, French, German, History, Geography and Latin (as a two period short course in the fifth year) as well as two periods of PE and Friday afternoons on the playing fields into my timetable, but then we didn't have IT and Media Studies (whatever that might be..how to operate a VCR and playstation console etc. ? ;) ) pressing for our attention in the 1950s.

However I must stress that I'm not yet sure of the full facts of the situation my granddaughter is up against.

ve no objection to RE being a mandatory subject, and certainly comparative religion is an essential insight

but most of RE is not like it used to be, we did jews and christians views on things like suicide, drugs , sex there wasnt that much on religion tho!

Originally posted by miniminch
Get out of here! Thats like some geeky maths teacher saying maths is all around you and refering to the number 12 bus!!


:clap: well done, because without all those "geeky mathematicians" we wouldn't have CDs, PCs and loads of other technology.

FYI mathematics is all around us, not just on the number 12 bus, but also in nature.

Here is an article that you should read to open your mind a little http://www.learner.org/exhibits/dailymath/

Originally posted by Greybeard
My old school managed to cram English Language, Maths, French, German, History, Geography and Latin (as a two period short course in the fifth year) as well as two periods of PE and Friday afternoons on the playing fields into my timetable, but then we didn't have IT and Media Studies (whatever that might be..how to operate a VCR and playstation console etc. ? ;) ) pressing for our attention in the 1950s.

Greybeard you just sound like my dad, he was just saying the other day that kids these days dont spend much time at school during the day as compared to kids in the 1950's

I sat my GCSEs in 1999, we had to choose between either RE for which we got a full GCSE for & had to sit an exam for or do PSE for which we got a certificate and had no exam. I decided to do RE and get another qualification.

We managed to fit in 2 lessons a week, but our lessons were only 50 minutes long.

Originally posted by mega_monty
Greybeard you just sound like my dad, he was just saying the other day that kids these days dont spend much time at school during the day as compared to kids in the 1950's

Well I forgot to mention the minimum of two hours homework every night, plus an extra two for the weekend; with no Microsoaft Encarta to crib from and no pocket calculator to do all the laborious arithmetic or solve those quadratic equations for you :D

With four younger siblings in the house I often used to use the local library to do my homework...and up at 6:30 every morning to do my paper round.

Lots of changes in education over the last fifty years of course, some good and some bad, but in my view it does seem to have become a lot easier to get good exam results and standards of literacy and numeracy have declined significantly, even amongst the supposedly 'well educated'. But that doesn't reflect on the kids, because they're not responsible for the standards set in the system.

Originally posted by Greybeard
standards of literacy and numeracy have declined significantly, even amongst the supposedly 'well educated'. But that doesn't reflect on the kids, because they're not responsible for the standards set in the system.

Standards have dropped because of bloody mobile phone texting language.

I see "L8R" far too many times for my liking. What's worse, they use "2" for "two", "too" and "to".

I remember getting a smack for using "kwik" as opposed to "quick" because I'd seen it on the "Kwik Fit Euro" tyre place when they first appeared in Sheffield.

Originally posted by scallywagjaz
As an RE teacher in a Sheffield secondary school I can tell you that the Government policy concerning Religious Education is that all students must do RE, usually for one period a week, up to the end of Year 11.

Most schools will encourage all students to take a GCSE short course qualification at the end of their course. At my school we encourage the more able students to take a full GCSE at the end of Year 11.

Parents often ask if their children can do other subjects to GCSE rather than RE, but timetable constraints, and the fact that most other subjects which students opt for at GCSE require at least two periods a week, usually makes this impossible.

A student being asked to drop two of their favourite subjects is rare, but it usually means that they have opted for other subjects in preference, and there is no room on the timetable for everything that students want to do. It might be possible to do GCSE in one or both of these subjects in after school lessons or in the 6th form as others have suggested.

It is possible for parents to withdraw pupils from RE on the grounds of conscience, but withdrawal puts the emphasis on the parents to provide education for their child during the RE period not the school.

RE has changed enormously in the last few years in schools and includes humanism and other secular philosophies besides all the major world religions.

The GCSE courses available in schools these days include study of the human experience with regard to persecution and prejudice, conflict and peace, medical ethics, crime and punishment, pollution and conservation, the problem of evil and suffering, relationships, community and much more, explored from various religious and philosophical standpoints.

Pass marks at RE in Sheffield schools invariably outdo most other subjects at GCSE because of this stimulating and interesting content. I ask you in what other subject can a teacher involve a class of students in a complex, stimulating and intriguing discussion by asking the question "Is it ever right to take a life?", except in RE?

I absolutely agree (I'm doing RS A2 at the moment!). I think the problem here is that parents become mislead by the term 'Religious Studies'. As you have demonstrated, it's really far more to do with ethics and world problems, and especially current affairs issues like global warming and euthaniasia, for example. I learnt very little (if any) religious doctrine during GCSE, as I already had a foundation of this from Y1-9. I think it's an incredibly valuable subject.

Greybeard - I finished my GCSEs in 2003 and I took Maths, English Literature, English Language, Double Science (that's two GCSEs including the three subjects), History, Art, Graphic Design, IT, RS and French. You can't tell me that's not a well rounded education.

Our school made us choose either History or Geography, made us do a technology subject (Graphics/Resistant Materials/Electronics/FoodTechnology), made us do a foreign language, and obviously Maths/English/Science are compulsory. We also had to do short course RS and short course IT (which becomea full GCSE grade together) however Ispent extra lessons (i.e. lunchtimes/after school classes) making each of those up to the full course. The others are the 'options' - I think you'll find that only leaves my Art!