The Religious Education Council of England and Wales (REC) has launched a new campaign to encourage more graduates to pursue a career as a religious education (RE) teacher.

Data shows that the subject is growing in popularity, with the number of students choosing to study GCSE RE increasing by 19 per cent over the last three years.

This is also demonstrated in further education, with interest in the subject as an A-level increasing every year.

The REC's Beyond the Ordinary campaign is designed to highlight the importance of RE, explaining that "it goes to the very heart of what it is to be human".

"The issues it covers are in the news on a daily basis, so RE has never been so relevant and beneficial," the authors state.

"As an RE teacher you’ll help young people make sense of the world around them. And you’ll equip them with religious literacy and skills that will last a lifetime."

Trainees with a 1st in their degree or a PhD will benefit from a £9,000 bursary, while others – those with a 2:1, for example – are eligible for a £4,000 bursary.

Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, chief executive of the REC, told the BBC that there is a growing need for RE teachers and presently it is a "great time to enter the profession" in such a role.

"Increasing religious literacy is extremely important in today's society," he continued  "Issues of religion and belief frequently top the news agenda and helping students make sense of them is immensely rewarding and intellectually stimulating.

"No other career gives people the opportunity to tackle the big questions in life and to explore the impact of faith and belief on people's lives like RE teaching."