Board’s fears over new religious studies GCSE

For some of the more Orthodox schools, “this would seriously compromise the possibility of offering religious studies as a public qualification,” the Board said.

It also warned that the changes in syllabus would focus too much on theory, while leaving too little time for understanding the practical aspects of religion.

Exam boards should also be more aware of the different streams within Judaism in order to avoid setting questions that might disadvantage some pupils.

“It is important that the examining boards seek input from all sections of the Jewish community when preparing syllabuses,” the Board stated in its submission, “as different denominations within Judaism have different attitudes to, for example, the interpretation of texts and the importance of ritual.”

Board senior vice-president Laura Marks commented this week, “There is concern in many, but not all parts of our community that, by teaching a second religion, Jewish children will not be able to learn as much about Judaism, in as much depth and with as much rigour. Some schools may even choose not to take the GCSE at all.”

While schools will remain free to teach just one religion at A-level, the Board’s submission to the DFE said parts of the Judaism syllabus had become “reliant on non-Orthodox perspectives.”

In particular, four of five theologians specified for study of the Holocaust were Reform, with just one Orthodox.

Including Orthodox thinkers such as Lord Sacks or Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik would provide more balance, the Board argued.