Support for compulsory RE

More than half of adults in the UK think that religious education is so beneficial to pupils that it should be a compulsory subject in schools, a poll suggests. 

Support appears to be even stronger among young people and current students.

The YouGov poll, conducted on behalf of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales (REC), found that 58 per cent of adults and 65 per cent of current students in England and Wales agreed that it was beneficial for pupils to study RE.

More than half (53 per cent) of adults and 63 per cent of young people thought the subject should remain compulsory in state-funded schools. 

More than half of the young people polled said that studying RE promoted respect, tolerance and understanding.