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.

Discover all the resources here!