How you can make a difference as an RE teacher
RE teachers are in high demand. There’s a national shortage of RE teachers, which can mean rapid career progression, but beyond that, it’s one of the most rewarding roles in teaching.
Many schools in the country are having trouble recruiting subject-specialist teachers. Now is a great time to think about a career in Religious Education.
RE is a dynamic, intellectually rich subject that helps young people make sense of a complex world. It’s a subject of ideas, ethics, and big questions. It covers climate change, AI and human rights, looking at both religious and non-religious responses.
Karen Steele, the PGCE Secondary RE Course Leader at the University of Worcester, shares six reasons why training as an RE teacher could be the ticket to your dream career.
1. RE is one of the most intellectually diverse subjects to teach
RE sits at the intersection of philosophy, ethics, sociology, history, politics, culture, psychology and anthropology. All disciplines are welcome.
Humanities graduates have strong analytical and communication skills. Science graduates offer logical reasoning and evidence-based thinking. Social science graduates understand culture, society and human behaviour.
At the University of Worcester, we’ll help with your subject knowledge before and during the PGCE course. Once you’ve accepted a place, we’ll offer you a subject knowledge tutorial and a tailored reading list. On the course you’ll meet visitors from a range of religious and non-religious worldviews and tour places of worship.
2. RE teachers are in high demand
There is a shortage of newly qualified teachers with a specialism in RE. This means better job opportunities and career prospects, especially as a recent review suggested that RE should be part of the national curriculum.
Due to a lack of specialists, dedicated RE teachers often advance quickly in their careers. They could take on roles in whole-school teaching, pastoral leadership, and advisory positions at the Trust level. It’s an exciting time to be an RE teacher.
3. You don’t need to be religious to teach RE
RE promotes critical thinking and social cohesion, not religious affiliation, and graduates of any background are welcome. RE helps young people think critically about real-world issues such as the climate crisis and the challenges presented by AI.
As an RE teacher, you’ll encourage debate, empathy, dialogue and respectful disagreement. Teaching it means helping young people understand diversity and engage thoughtfully in a plural society.
4. Join a strong, supportive professional community
RE has many professional groups that offer mentoring, free resources, conferences and career development. Few subjects have such a supportive and nurturing network.
Several charitable organisations offer financial support to trainee RE teachers and staff at the University of Worcester can advise you on what might be available.
This helps you personally and professionally on your journey to help students in a subject vital for their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
5. Daily variety and creativity
RE lessons include discussion, philosophical enquiry, analysing texts and interrogating data; it’s one of the most diverse and challenging subjects on the curriculum.
In a single day, you might teach about Hindu Dharma, views on euthanasia, and non-religious beliefs. You could also cover Catholic responses to Marxism and different interpretations of the creation story in Genesis.
In RE we draw upon rich religious traditions, great thinkers, and academic disciplines. It’s never boring.
6. A career with a sense of purpose
In what other role do you get to help young people navigate complex moral and cultural questions? Teenagers often find RE personally meaningful because it touches on identity, ethics, and life choices. It’s about what it means to be human, making engagement strong and relationships memorable.
You help young people navigate complex moral and cultural questions. You also foster respect and understanding in future citizens. What could be more rewarding?
Find out more about training to teach at Worcester