Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations have been received by his Department on the provision of RE teaching in schools as part of a broad and balanced curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

The Department receives regular representation on the matter of religious education (RE). For example, I attended a panel discussion at the All Party Parliamentary Group on RE on 16 July.

All state funded schools are required by legislation or by their funding agreements to teach RE to all registered pupils aged 5 to 18 years. Teaching RE is also central to the duty on state schools to teach a broad and balanced curriculum that promotes the spiritual, moral and cultural development of pupils.