|PIC1|Church educationalists point to the subject’s popularity as a vivid sign that young people are interested in exploring religious and spiritual perspectives of the world, and in studying the moral and cultural frameworks people share across diverse globalised societies.

Up to 21,079 students in the UK will today find out their results for Religious Studies A-Level compared to 20,134 in 2008, and 80.1 per cent of them will be celebrating achieving a A-C grade against 80.4 per cent in 2008. The number taking AS Levels also increased.

Jane Brooke, the Church of England’s RE Development Consultant, said sixth-form level interest in Religious Studies was at an all-time high, with this year seeing the highest ever number of students taking the course at A and AS Level.

"This success is down to students, to quality teaching and to the support of headteachers and senior leaders within schools," she said.

“Sadly, much of the success of RS is overshadowed on the national stage by subjects seemingly deemed more important.

"Young people are saying that matters of faith really are worth studying as a way of helping them form their own viewpoints.

"The popularity of RS is an inconvenient fact for those who seek to portray the world in purely secular terms."

The Church of England has posted a selection of prayers on its website for those receiving exam results this summer and considering their future options, available at: www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/prayers/examprayer.html These prayers are also available by podcast, thanks to young people in Dalston, East London, at: www.cofe.anglican.org/podcasts/wp-content/uploads/cofepodcastexamprayers.mp3