Nearly a third of religious education teachers say they are aware of pupils being pulled out of lessons by their parents, according to a poll for the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE).

Results suggest that children are being withdrawn for a variety of reasons, based not only on religious objections but for reasons such as to allow them to study another subject.

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But NATRE said the subject was a “vital part" of the curriculum.

Its survey found 31.7 per cent of the 495 teachers who answered its questionnaire reported that pupils had been withdrawn from religious education by their parents.

Of those who gave more information, 21 per cent said this had been done for a curricular reason, such as wanting a child to study a different subject.

Some 20 per cent reported that it was because the family were Muslim, Jehovah's Witnesses or another religion.

Under current rules, schools in England have to teach religious education, but parents have the right to withdraw their child for all, or part, of the lessons.

The survey also found that 24 per cent of respondents said there was a decrease in the amount of teaching in the subject in 2018-19 compared to 2017-18, while 18 per cent felt there was an increase.

It also found 28 per cent said there had been a decrease in numbers of subject specialist staff in 2018-19, while 13 per cent thought there had been an increase.

NATRE chair Ben Wood said: "Religious education is a vital part of the curriculum, giving pupils the chance to learn about the people in the world around them and providing them with the opportunity to discuss and debate important questions.”