Introduction

The Curriculum and Assessment Review is a significant moment for RE. With this in mind, for our AGM, we are exploring a few critical issues in RE. We will be passing feedback from these questions to the Curriculum and Assessment Review Team. It would be useful to get a range of views, from representatives and from their organisations. There is opportunity to indicate who you are responding for.
Please state your RE Council Member Organisation if this differs from your professional organisation.
Are you responding on behalf of yourself, in a professional capacity, or as a representative of your organisation?

1. What does a pupil who has been well educated in RE look like?

In this question, consider what such a pupil may have gained from studying RE.

National Curriculum

Debate continues regarding whether RE should become part of the National Curriculum. In our recent survey, respondents were evenly split on RE’s inclusion.

2. What do you understand by the phrase "RE should be on a par with subjects of the National Curriculum"?

In our recent member survey, 100% of respondents agreed that: “The place of Religious Education in the curriculum should be reviewed to ensure that its status is on a par with the core and foundation subjects of the National Curriculum.” Our survey did not explore what respondents understood “on a par” to mean. What do you understand by this?

3. RE is compulsory at Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5, whereas not all National Curriculum subjects are. If RE were to be included in the National Curriculum this may change. What is your view on this?

4. What is your view on RE curriculum content being specified by central government?

Currently, RE content is specified by local SACRE’s. The content for National Curriculum subjects is specified by central government.

5. What is your view on RE curriculum standards being specified by central government?

There are no nationally agreed standards for RE. This has led to wide disparities in the quality of RE on offer. A nationally agreed standard specified by central government could improve this. This does not necessarily mean central government specifying RE content.

Privacy

Are you happy for these responses to be shared with RE Council colleagues, and third parties such as the Curriculum and Assessment Review team or the DfE?

The RE Council Privacy Policy can be found here.