Religious Education Teacher Interview Questions UK: 8 Real Questions and What Interviewers Want

Most Religious Education Teacher interviews in the UK follow a pattern, and knowing it beats guessing. Below are eight questions from our bank of 12, each with a note on what the interviewer is really after.

Eight Religious Education Teacher interview questions, and what the interviewer is thinking

1. What is the legal position of Religious Education in schools, and how does it differ between community schools, academies and faith schools?

Why they ask: To check you understand the statutory framework you would be working within.

2. How do you teach students to answer 12-mark evaluation questions in GCSE Religious Studies?

Why they ask: To check you can develop the evaluative skills that lift grades.

3. A parent says they want to withdraw their child from RE because the lesson covers religions other than their own. How do you respond?

Why they ask: To see if you can respect parental rights and explain the purpose of RE.

4. During a lesson on Islam, a student makes a hostile and stereotyped comment about Muslims, and a Muslim student in the class looks upset. What do you do?

Why they ask: To check you handle prejudice in a sensitive subject area.

5. How do you teach about religion in an impartial way that doesn't promote any one belief, and how do you include non-religious worldviews and diversity within traditions?

Why they ask: To check your understanding of pedagogy in a contested subject.

6. How would you teach arguments for the existence of God or the problem of evil so students think critically rather than just recall?

Why they ask: To check you can handle philosophical content with rigour.

7. Tell me about a time you taught a sensitive or emotive topic, such as abortion, euthanasia or the Holocaust. How did you prepare and handle it?

Why they ask: To see whether you manage sensitive content with care and balance.

8. Why do you want to teach Religious Education, and why does it matter in a largely secular society?

Why they ask: To check your motivation and understanding of RE's contemporary purpose.

A sample answer to question 1

What is the legal position of Religious Education in schools, and how does it differ between community schools, academies and faith schools?

RE is compulsory for all registered pupils, including in the sixth form, though it is not part of the National Curriculum. In community and voluntary controlled schools, it follows the locally agreed syllabus, produced by an Agreed Syllabus Conference and overseen by the local SACRE. Academies and free schools must teach RE under their funding agreement, and many follow the local syllabus, although they have freedom to choose their own, provided it meets the requirement to reflect that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian while taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions. Voluntary aided and academy faith schools can teach RE according to their trust deed: Church of England schools follow the Statement of Entitlement, and Catholic schools the Bishops' curriculum directory, with denominational inspection through SIAMS or Section 48. Parents have the right to withdraw their children, and I would respect that. I'd also keep an eye on national developments following the Curriculum and Assessment Review.

Common mistake to avoid: Saying RE is part of the National Curriculum; Not mentioning faith school differences

Want the rest?

Full model answers, key points and common mistakes for all 12 questions are on the Religious Education Teacher interview questions page. The first five are free, no sign-up needed.