Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of religious education teacher trainees held degrees in subjects other than religious education in the 2024-25 academic year; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of removing the subject knowledge enhancement grant for religious education on the quality of religious education provision.

Religious education (RE) is not a degree subject recognised by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). The closest subject in HESA’s Common Aggregation Hierarchy is theology and religious studies. In 2024/25, there were 444 new entrants to RE initial teacher training (ITT), for whom we have data on first degree subject. Of these, 89 (20%) had degrees in subjects categorised as theology and religious studies, and 355 (80%) had degrees in other subjects. Some degree subjects, such as philosophy, that are not included within theology and religious studies, may contain relevant content for RE. It is the responsibility of the accredited ITT provider to determine the suitability of a candidate applying for ITT. The department publishes the ITT criteria which sets out the minimum requirements that a candidate must meet to be eligible for ITT.

The department continually reviews the support available to trainee teachers and the annual review of the subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) package will take place before the new academic year to ensure that available SKE provision is focused on the candidates who need it the most.

The department remains committed to recruiting the teachers we need. We have announced an ITT financial incentives package worth up to £233 million for the 2025/26 ITT recruitment cycle, a £37 million increase on the last cycle. This includes a £10,000 tax-free bursary for RE trainee teachers.