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ATCRE Expresses Deep Disappointment Over Removal of RE Teacher Training Bursaries

The Association of Teachers of Catholic Religious Education (ATCRE) has expressed profound disappointment and frustration at the Department for Education’s decision to remove the £10,000 Initial Teacher Training (ITT) bursary for Religious Education (RE) from September 2026.

Whilst ATCRE recognises the profound shortages in other subjects too, this decision will have a detrimental effect on the whole RE community who will feel undermined and undervalued by the government.

This decision comes despite RE recruitment reaching only 54% of its target for the 2025–26 academic year—one of the lowest rates among secondary subjects. The bursary, reintroduced in 2024–25, had led to a 40% increase in applications to train as RE teachers, demonstrating its effectiveness in addressing the long-standing recruitment crisis.

Religious Studies/Religious Education lessons in Secondary schools are already alarmingly short of subject specialists.

Data shows that at least 51% of Secondary RE lessons in England and Wales were taught by someone whose main subject was something other than RE. And only 44% of those who taught a lesson of RE on their timetable held any qualification in the subject compared with 80% in English and 78.5% in History.

ATCRE, which represents and supports teachers of Catholic RE across England and Wales, warns that the removal of this financial support will have serious consequences for Catholic schools, where RE is considered “the core of the core curriculum” and occupies at least 10% of the timetable (and 5% at Key Stage 5). ATCRE is worried about the impact the removal of the bursary will have on both those currently in RE teaching and those wishing to train in RE.

“This is a short-sighted and deeply concerning move,” said Dave Legrand, Chair of ATCRE. “Catholic schools rely on well-trained, specialist RE teachers to deliver a curriculum that is both academically rigorous and spiritually enriching. Removing the bursary undermines efforts to recruit and retain such teachers. Headteachers and Heads of RE are telling us about the challenges of finding RE teachers and their increasing reliance on teachers trained in a subject other than RE. This adds to the workload of the specialists who are already having to do the ‘heavy lifting’ with resourcing, exam classes, and supporting those teaching RE outside of their specialism.”

“The Prime Minister, when he announced the bursaries, said that he was supporting ‘talented people to become great teachers.’ ATCRE is calling on him to show this support to the great teachers of RE today and in the future by giving the subject proper support and funding.” Legrand added. “Religious Education plays a vital role in helping young people understand diverse worldviews, build community cohesion, and develop critical thinking skills. To neglect this is worrying.”

ATCRE is calling on the government to urgently reconsider this decision and reinstate the bursary for 2026–27.

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