The future of religious education in schools looks ‘bleak’ unless the Government takes remedial action, a new report has warned. The report by the National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE) says that RE was already being marginalised as a result of Education Secretary Michael Gove's decision to leave it out of the English Baccalaureate (EBac). RE has been a core subject for all pupils since 1870, but NATRE warned that it is ‘set to disappear’ from the curriculum of many secondary schools. Its survey of nearly 2,000 state maintained secondary schools found that a quarter are not providing statutory RE for 14 to 16-year-olds, a statistic that is expected to rise during the 2011/2012 academic year. The report stated that entries to GCSE level RE have dropped by more than a third in academies and community schools in the last year. In schools where entry levels fell, more than half attributed the drop to RE being excluded from the EBac. (See Prayer Alert 11-2011)

Pray: that this report will lead the Government to take action to encourage the return of RE as a core subject. (Dt.4:9)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/re.is.being.killed.off.in.schools.report/28218.htm

Religious Education in secondary schools is in sharp decline, according to the National Association of RE Teachers (NATRE), – and the much-heralded English Baccalaurate (EBacc) is a major factor. The EBacc is awarded to students achieving grades A*-C in English, mathematics, two sciences, a foreign language and history or geography at GCSE level. It is also the title of new qualifications designed to replace GCSEs. However, according to NATRE, it is narrowing the scope for other subjects, including RE, as schools concentrate on the EBacc subjects. A poll of schools show a rise in the number saying they do not or cannot teach the subject to the legally required standard. In the poll of 625 secondary schools, NATRE found that 24 per cent planned to reduce the number of specialist RE teaching staff in the next academic year, while only 11 per cent planned an increase. Of those planning a decrease, 82 per cent cited the introduction of the EBacc as a factor.

Pray: that the importance of Religious Education would not be ignored by the educational authorities. (Ex.3313)

More: http://www.methodistrecorder.co.uk/mrhlines.htm

Two Roman Catholic midwives with conscientious objections to abortion who won their case against the NHS may now face a further legal challenge. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has announced it will appeal Scotland’s supreme civil court ruling that Mary Doogan and Connie Wood would not have to delegate, supervise or support staff involved in abortions. Pro-life group the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) backed the midwives’ legal fight. SPUC’s General Secretary Paul Tully said: ‘We are disappointed, particularly for Connie and Mary, as this means prolonging this lengthy case even further’. (See Prayer Alert 18-2013)

Pray: that this challenge to the nurses' objections will be stopped and the previous result upheld. (Job.5:8)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/rc-midwives-to-face-abortion-objection-ruling-challenge/

Police in England and Wales are being urged to be more proactive in their efforts to prevent rapes. Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said forces have been too "reactive" up until now. He wants police to focus on people who are vulnerable to abuse and institutions where intelligence suggests abuse is taking place. His comments come at the start of a week-long campaign to encourage rape victims to come forward. Mr Hewitt said debate on the issue was "far too often" restricted to investigation and prosecution and called for a "challenging debate about prevention as well. Most rape involves the coming together of some form of power and some type of vulnerability; either permanent or temporary," he said. "We need to be utilising all our powers and tactics to understand how this happens, to mitigate the vulnerability and reduce the opportunities for that power to be abused."

Pray: for all victims of rape but pray that this fresh approach will make a real difference. (Ps.9:9)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25176554

Theresa May introduced measures to root out police corruption. All officers must declare second jobs they do. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will expand to investigate all serious complaints. Last year the IPCC investigated only 130 of the 2,100 cases referred to it, the remainder returned to individual police forces to investigate. Nearly a third of these internally-investigated complaints were found to have been mishandled at appeal. The Home Secretary will draw on the resources currently devoted to the internal professional standards departments of individual police forces to provide the increased capacity for the IPCC, and will give the IPCC powers to investigate private sector companies working for the police. Ms May also said she was prepared to consider any further legislative changes requested by the Commission.

Pray: that all investigations into complaints against the police will be just and righteous – may there be a better atmosphere of confidence in our police. (Ps.9:16)

More: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-centre/press-releases/1155613

The Queen is sowing seeds of reconciliation that no amount of government negotiation could achieve. The Queen, who arrived wearing emerald green, laid a wreath at Dublin’s Garden of Remembrance which commemorates those who died resisting the British rule in the 1916 revolution. The wreath-laying ceremony has been viewed as a symbolic act of reconciliation between the two countries. The British national anthem was played, which is something that would have been unthinkable ten years ago. A motorcade then took the 85-year-old Queen to sign a visitors' book dating back to 1802 and plant an Irish oak sapling. Her actions mirror Queen Victoria’s planting a redwood there in 1861. HM visited Trinity College Dublin where she viewed the Book of Kells, a ninth century gospel manuscript kept in the Old Library with the college's royal charter signed in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. The visit coincides with the 37th anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings.

Pray: for seeds of reconciliation sown by HM Head of State and Church to produce abundant fruit of God's purposes for our nations. (Jn.4:35-37)

More: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/queen-visits-ireland-despite-bomb-threat-030220372.html

Quakers in Britain, as members of the ‘Close the Gap Campaign’, have called for greater tax justice in a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Caroline Lucas MP, Kate Green MP and Jeremy Corbin MP have introduced a Private Members Bill (Tax and Transparency Bill) to enhance transparency in corporate payment of tax. Tax evasion and avoidance is estimated by the Treasury to cost the UK purse at least £35 billion annually. Others estimate the number to be substantially higher. This is nearly nine per cent of UK tax revenue and the efficient collection of this revenue would lessen the demand to cut social and welfare expenditure which is hurting the poorest in our communities so much. Treasury estimates also suggest that those who are avoiding paying their contribution are mainly wealthy individuals and corporations, so the recouping of this money would not harm the poorest and most vulnerable.

Pray: that this Private Members Bill bring the right response from those who avoid paying correct taxes. (Ps.1:6)

More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/15868

More than 1,500 Quakers will gather in Canterbury next week for their annual meeting to discern the way ahead for Quakers in Britain. The eight-day programme for all ages will be a mix of worship, learning, teaching,celebration, business, spiritual growth and fun - including a ceilidh and the making of patchwork quilts. The theme for the Yearly Meeting Gathering at the University of Kent, from Saturday 30 July to Saturday 6 August, is ‘Growing in the Spirit: changing the way we live to sustain the world we live in’. More than 270 under 19 year olds will take part in a parallel programme, exploring the same theme, with 107 taking part in Junior Yearly Meeting for 15 – 18 year olds and 165 in the children and young people’s programme.' Yearly Meeting Gathering is a high point of the Quaker year and we have a chance to discern together what God requires of us in the world'.

Pray: that the Holy Spirit would give his wisdom and insight to envision this gathering. (Ac.2:17)

More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/15154