From division to understanding: Why a national curriculum for RS is essential – and what’s wrong with the current system

FRANCESCA BISSET-MAHON, HEAD OF RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY & ETHICS, LYMM HIGH SCHOOL, UK In a world increasingly defined by division, misinformation and cultural polarisation, the need for a strong, inclusive religious studies (RS) curriculum is no longer just an educational concern – it’s a social imperative. While debates rage over history syllabi or maths attainment, we’re overlooking a vital subject that equips young people with the tools to critically navigate today’s most pressing issues: RS. Right now, there is no national curriculum for RS in the UK, and that has created a fragmented and inconsistent educational landscape. Some pupils are lucky enough to explore a wide range of worldviews and moral frameworks. Others barely scratch the surface. In a time when globalisation, digital echo chambers and rising extremism are shaping the way in which we see each other, this inconsistency is potentially dangerous. The high cost of ignorance: What happens without religious