ABSTRACT
The 1944 Education Act not only radically altered the position of religious instruction in schools, but also caused great changes to take place in training colleges. Before this, scripture or divinity or religious education was not a qualifying subject in the teacher’s certificate, and colleges could only offer courses in it as an additional subject. The changes in the Education Act meant that much more provision for religious teaching must be made in the colleges if teachers were to be prepared to deal at all adequately with the kind of work outlined in the new agreed syllabuses, and it became necessary to appoint specialist staff. Many colleges interpreted the ‘Balance of Training’ circular in such a way that only those taking main courses in science or physical education could train as secondary teachers. Dr Hilliard, in The Times’ Educational Supplement of 1965 rightly pointed out that 'Religious teaching has not been tried and found wanting'.
