A level Religious Studies entries fall amid shortage of specialist teachers
The number of students in England and Wales taking Religious Studies at A-level has dropped by 2.7 per cent to 14,594, falling for the fifth successive year, giving rise to concern over the shortage of specialist RS teachers. Subject leaders say that despite the subject being the seventh most widely taken at GCSE, this has not translated into a corresponding rise in A-level entries and they point to a longstanding shortage of RE specialists in schools. Half of those who deliver RE lessons in England and Wales mainly teach another subject. Sarah Lane Cawte, Chair of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales, said: “The ongoing decline of entries in A-level Religious Studies is a symptom of a bigger and growing problem with the lack of specialist RE teachers in our schools. A-level RE is challenging but deeply rewarding. It allows students to confront the philosophical and theological questions that underpin human existence and develops the kind of thinkers who go on to flourish in further education and work. We do a great disservice to young people by not offering them the choice to take it.” Church Times report here. Analysis by the Religious Education Council and NATRE reveals:
– In England the number of students taking the subject at A-level saw a fall of 3 per cent, from 14,268 to 13,832.
– In Wales the number of students taking A-level RS rose slightly by 3.4 per cent, from 737 to 762.
– The number of students who achieved Grade A*-C rose by 0.5 per cent in both England and Wales.
– More girls took the subject (69 per cent) than boys (31 per cent).
– Over the last five years, entries to the subject have fallen by 12 per cent from 16,645 to 14,594.
Catholic Bishop of Northampton appears in court on rape charges
The Catholic Bishop of Northampton, David Oakley, has appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court via videolink from his lawyer’s office, to face charges of rape for the first time. He is charged with two counts of rape of a girl aged 15, after they went on a pilgrimage to Lourdes in the early 2000s. Oakley, aged 70, was arrested in September 2025 and has withdrawn from public ministry. He did not enter pleas and the case has been sent to the Old Bailey for a plea hearing on 10 September. He has been released on bail.
Former Australian Catholic bishop guilty of 13 sex offences
The former Catholic Bishop of Broome in north-western Australia, Christopher Alan Saunders, has been convicted of 13 sex offences between 2008 and 2019, including sexually abusing two young Aboriginal men, one count of sexual penetration without consent and other unlawful and indecent assault charges. Saunders, aged 76, was acquitted of six other charges, including two counts of indecently dealing with a child over 16 under his authority and four counts of unlawful and indecent assault. The District Court of Western Australia was told that Saunders put on alcohol-fuelled parties at Catholic church-owned properties to get access to Aboriginal boys and men so he could sexually assault them. He was Bishop of Broome from 1996 to 2020, stepping aside when the sex abuse claims became public, resigning in 2021. He has been remanded in custody for sentencing next month.
Charity Commission appoints interim managers to spiritualist charity
The Charity Commission has appointed interim managers to the unregistered spiritualist charity London Spiritual Mission, amidst its ongoing inquiry into both it and the connected charity “Trust Property Held In Connection With The London Spiritual Mission”. The interim managers will review the charity’s governance, membership and legal structures, safeguard charitable assets and clarify its relationship with the connected trust and other entities. They will also oversee the recruitment of trustees. The regulator launched its statutory inquiry in December 2023. In a statement it says the London Spiritual Mission is an unregistered charity which the Commission considers ought to have been registered.
Derby archdeacon moves to ‘quasi episcopal’ Dean’s role on Guernsey
The Ven Matthew Trick, currently the Archdeacon of Derby City and South Derbyshire, has been appointed as the next Dean of Guernsey and will leave Derbyshire this month to start his new job. The job description makes clear that the Dean has “quasi-episcopal, archidiaconal and decanal responsibilities”. He will be an ex-officio member of the States of Deliberation, Guernsey’s parliament, but without a vote. The Deanery includes 16 churches in Guernsey, Alderney and Sark, with around 20 clergy. His appointment is the latest in a series of recent changes in the Derby diocese. In January, Bishop Libby Lane left on sick leave and in May, Bishop Jackie Searle was whisked out of retirement to become acting Bishop of Derby on a part time basis.
Pope themed mitre hats a major crowd puller at Chicago White Sox game
The Chicago White Sox American football team have come up with a novel promotion in response to their fans – giving away a pope-themed mitre hat complete with logo. They are among many teams giving out promotional material to boost crowds, but this one has become a craze. Pope Leo is from Chicago and has made no secret of the fact that the Chicago White Sox are his team. What started as a limited promotion for a speciality theme night has taken off. The hats were given to all 38,113 ticket holders for the game against Cincinnati Reds, but it was not a good omen – they lost 5:4.
