State, Staff and Status: The Situation for Religious Education in Contemporary Scotland

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

    Abstract

    Since the publication of the indelible Millar Report in 1972 (SED 1972), Scottish religious
    education—in both denominational and non-denominational sectors—has undergone
    stages of modernisation (Hannah 2007), culminating, first, with the introduction of the
    5-14 curriculum in 1992 and recently (2009/10) the introduction of a new curriculum
    called ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ (Hartshorn 2008; Nixon 2008). This article examines
    the state (extent of provision), staff (specialist teachers) and status (public esteem) of
    Religious Education (RE) in the secondary school sector of contemporary Scotland. It
    uses qualitative research methods involving data based on relevant literature, official
    documents and interviews with key stakeholders (n25). With major questions being
    raised if religious education works in Scotland as well (Lundie 2010), the article
    investigates if religious education in Scotland has reached the ‘Nirvana’ stage hoped by
    the processes of educationalisation and professionalisation (Fairweather and MacDonald
    1992). However, it is argued that given the nature and extent of the challenges facing
    religious education in Scotland, it is difficult to see how religious education can realise its
    full potential as a curriculum subject. It concludes that in an era of secularisation when
    liberal thinking dominates educational policy and practice, religious education might
    require much more support than is currently being given if the subject is to become
    competitive on the school curriculum.
    Original languageEnglish
    Publication statusPublished - 2011
    EventScottish Educational Research Association 2011 - Stirling Highland Hotel, Stirling, United Kingdom
    Duration: 24 Oct 201125 Oct 2011
    http://www.sera.ac.uk/documents/2011/Conference_booklet_2011_Revised_version_16_November_2011.pdf

    Conference

    ConferenceScottish Educational Research Association 2011
    Abbreviated titleSERA 2011
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    CityStirling
    Period24/10/1125/10/11
    Internet address

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