New
New
Year 10
Eduqas

The census and Christianity in the UK

I can explain the influence of Christianity in Britain and how this has changed over time.

New
New
Year 10
Eduqas

The census and Christianity in the UK

I can explain the influence of Christianity in Britain and how this has changed over time.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A census is an official count or survey of a population; this is carried out every 10 years in England and Wales.
  2. Census data from England and Wales in 2001, 2011 and 2021 shows that Christianity is declining.
  3. Census data from England and Wales in 2001, 2011 and 2021 shows that other religions are growing and the UK is diverse.
  4. Many UK laws, traditions and festivals reflect Christian beliefs and teachings; religious diversity is also celebrated.

Keywords

  • Census - an official count or survey, especially of a population

  • Diverse/diversity - referring to the presence of variety and differences within a group or context

  • Festival - a day or period of celebration, typically for religious reasons

Common misconception

All people belong to some form of religion.

According to the 2021 Census in England and Wales, there are an increasing number of individuals who have no religion.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: The census and Christianity in the UK, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may wish to use the Office for National Statistics website to research census data in your local area to contextualise students' learning.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
The season of helps Christians prepare for Christmas.

Correct Answer: Advent, advent

Q2.
Many schools perform a play to retell the story of Jesus’ birth.

Correct Answer: nativity, Nativity

Q3.
What does the Feast of the Epiphany celebrate?

the baptism of Jesus
Jesus feeding the 5,000
Correct answer: the Magi visiting Jesus and his revealing to the world

Q4.
is the 40-day season that prepares Christians for Easter.

Correct Answer: Lent, lent

Q5.
Why do Christians celebrate Easter Sunday?

Jesus was born.
Correct answer: Jesus rose from the dead.
Jesus wrote the Bible.

Q6.
Which of these is a common way Christians celebrate Easter?

fasting for 40 days
attending a wedding
Correct answer: going to church

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What does a census do?

makes religious laws
Correct answer: counts and surveys the population
celebrates festivals

Q2.
Between 2001 and 2021, the percentage of Christians in England and Wales has ...

Correct Answer: declined

Q3.
The UK is , with people from many religious and cultural backgrounds.

Correct Answer: diverse

Q4.
Which of these shows a Christian influence on UK laws?

Correct answer: laws about working on Sundays
laws about voting age
laws about recycling

Q5.
What is the second largest religion in England and Wales according to the 2021 Census?

Hinduism
Judaism
Correct answer: Islam

Q6.
Everyone belongs to a religion.

True – all people are religious.
Correct answer: False – some people have no religion.
True – even if they don’t know it.