Technical skills. Human understanding
Religious Education and vocational education
The Government’s renewed emphasis on technical and vocational education aims to give young people from age 14 access to respected pathways combining core academic learning with practical education, employer engagement and preparation for skilled work. Being ready for working life, however, requires more than technical competence. Every workplace brings people together, every profession involves responsibilities, and many careers require difficult ethical judgements. High-quality RE helps pupils understand religious and non-religious worldviews, examine competing claims, communicate across difference and make reasoned decisions.
The resources on this page illustrate that contribution:
- Technical Skills. Human Understanding. explains why RE should remain a meaningful part of every young person’s education as new vocational pathways are developed.
- How current RE supports success in vocational pathways shows more specifically how RE knowledge and ways of thinking connect with construction, health and social care, digital technology and AI, engineering and manufacturing, business and finance, education and public services.
- Film voices: RE for working life brings together short films and employer voices showing how people working in medicine, broadcasting, business, public services and other fields draw upon the understanding and skills developed through RE.
Together, these materials show that technical pathways should broaden opportunity without narrowing educational entitlement. Skills prepare young people to undertake work; RE helps them undertake it thoughtfully, responsibly and confidently.
Technical skills, human understanding main graphic
This resource explores why high-quality Religious Education matters within vocational and technical education from age 14. This accessible visual resource makes the case that preparing young people for employment requires more than technical competence: it also requires the ability to understand people, engage with different beliefs and perspectives, make ethical judgements and take responsibility.
Technical skills, human understanding film clip
Film voices: RE for working life brings together short films and employer voices demonstrating how Religious Education develops the knowledge, skills and values young people need across different careers. This secondary RE resource helps teachers connect religion and worldviews learning with employability, vocational education and the world of work.
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Vocational pathway: Business, finance & enterprise
Explore how Religious Education connects with business, finance and enterprise through this vocational pathways resource for secondary RE and careers education. The resource is designed to help pupils see how beliefs, values and ethical reasoning can influence decisions about money, work, employment, leadership and commercial activity.
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Vocational pathway: Construction & the built environment
Explore the connection between Religious Education, construction careers and the built environment with this vocational pathways resource for secondary schools. Designed to help RE teachers demonstrate the relevance of religion and worldviews to working life, the resource considers careers including electrician, plumber, carpenter, surveyor, site manager and architectural technician.
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Vocational pathway: Digital, computing & AI
How does Religious Education prepare young people for careers in digital technology, computing and artificial intelligence? This vocational pathways resource helps secondary RE teachers explore the increasingly important ethical and human questions surrounding technology and working life.
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Vocational pathway: Engineering, manufacturing & mechanics
This Religious Education and engineering vocational pathways resource demonstrates how RE can contribute to the knowledge, judgement and human understanding required in engineering, manufacturing and mechanical careers. It is suitable for secondary pupils considering careers such as engineering technician, mechanic, machinist, maintenance engineer and manufacturing operative.
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Vocational pathway: Health & social care
This Religious Education and health and social care resource shows how high-quality RE can prepare young people for careers involving care, health, wellbeing and responsibility for others. It is particularly relevant to pupils considering careers such as nursing, care work, paramedicine, dental technology, pharmacy and healthcare support.
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