ABSTRACT
A brief history of Religious Education in England and Wales is given, followed by study of selected government reports into the teaching of the subject, beginning with the Spens Report of 1938 and ending with the Swann Report of 1985. It is suggested that the latter broke with tradition and introduced patterns of teaching which distance children from religious life. There is need to find ways of teaching which avoid such pitfalls and the 1988 Education Reform Act legislated for just this. The Spens Report of 1938 was the product of a five-year enquiry into secondary education. Its chapter on 'Scripture' began: 'We believe that there is a wide and genuine recognition of the value and importance of religious instruction and the teaching of Scripture in schools'. The Crowther Report of 1959 was concerned with the 15-18 age groups. Crowther wanted guidance to be given to the young, while aware that the young were in no hurry to accept it.
