The number of pupils taking RE is on the rise but a severe shortage of specialist teachers is leading some schools and teaching colleges to drop the subject altogether. Stephen Hoare assesses the damage and looks at the causes of the problem It is not unusual these days for schools to advertise vacancies for religious education teachers multiple times. This month, there were at least 14 Catholic schools seeking staff for their RE departments, including three advertising for heads of department and two for deputy heads. Some of these posts were being advertised for a second time. A further 30 non-Catholic schools were advertising for RE staff.Government figures released in August reveal that overall teacher recruitment has dropped by an average of 10 per cent. Specialist subjects, such as